Posts Made by Ansley Holder

Georgia based timber framers make "historic" television debut

Posted on April 11, 2008 by Ansley Holder

WHERE do two timber framers from Georgia make their television debut discussing a hand tool commonly used to build historic reproduction timber frames and repair historic timber frames? You guessed it--on the History Channel. ("Historic timber frames" was a pretty good hint--I made it really easy for ya'll!) An upcoming episode of the wildly popular television program Modern Marvels will feature Holder Bros. Timber Frames co-owners Whit and Gabel Holder demonstrating the axes and hand-hewing techniques they use in their timber framing work.

WHO attracted the attention of the Modern Marvels producers? Gabel Holder wrote a timber frame blog about one of his favorite tools, the axe, and the producers found Gabel's blog post on the Holder Bros. Timber Frames web site while doing research for the upcoming episode.

WHAT will the timber framers demonstrate or talk about on the Modern Marvels program? Whit and Gabel will demonstrate converting a round log into a hand-hewn beam for a timber frame using only axes. They will show their collection of axes and describe the various different uses for each one.

WHY is the axe important to hand hewing and building timber frames? The axe has been crucial to humans for building shelter for thousands of years. Before sawmills, square timbers to build with were hand-hewn from round logs using a felling axe and a broad axe. The axe and its proper use allow Holder Bros. to create accurate reproductions of historic timber frames and repair historic timber frames. Using the proper techniques and tools to create hand-hewn timbers makes a night and day difference from the faux hand-hewn effect accomplished with electric machines. If you want something to look hand-hewn, it should really be hewn by hand.

WHEN will the episode air? The episode featuring timber framers Whit and Gabel Holder is scheduled to air on the History Channel on May 7th.

Tagged: timber frame, timber framing, historic timber framing, modern marvels, hand hewn timber frame, traditional timber framing, hand hewn timbers, timber frame georgia, timber frame restoration  |  0 comments

One Year Later--Charles Towne Landing timber frame

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Ansley Holder

Whit and I recently took a trip to Charleston for a few days around Christmas. While we were there, we visited the Charles Towne Landing State Park where Holder Bros. built a timber frame a year ago for the historic architecture exhibit at the park. It was a gorgeous, warm day for December and we walked from the Visitor's Center to the exhibit. (When you go, be sure to spend some time in the Visitor's Center. It has interesting, interactive exhibits about the settlement that was on the site of this state park. It's really great for kids.)

We completed this historic replica timber frame in December 2006 and visited the state park while in Charleston in March 2007 demonstrating timber framing at the Masters of the Building Arts Festival. So this was our second visit to see the timber frame in 2007. The exhibit is complete now; the timber frame has been furnished with furniture and housewares that would have been used there in the late 1600s. This timber frame was meant to show park visitors what sort of structure workers in the colony lived in while at the original settlement of Charles Towne. The building was built using the traditional methods and materials of timber framing that the colonists would have used to build a dwelling.

The timber frame sits off of the walking path, on a little point of land that juts into the river. When you are standing at the back of the timber frame building looking at the trees, marsh, and water and you can't hear any cars or other modern "city" noises, you can easily imagine that this is indeed what it looked like over 300 years ago.

While Whit was inside taking pictures, I was watching people stare in awe at the timber frame and what sort of building that people were able to construct during that time period. It is very rewarding to know that we played a part in educating people about timber framing. We created something for people to see and experience, to show them what life was like during that crucial period in American history. That appreciation of what came before us is what drives our passion for building historic timber frames and working on restoration and preservation of timber frame structures.

Tagged: timber frame restoration, hand hewn timber frame, hand hewn timbers, timber frame preservation, historic timber frame, timber frame south carolina, timber framing  |  0 comments

Building more than Timber Frames

Posted on January 02, 2008 by Ansley Holder

In addition to building timber frames, we are also building relationships with each one of our clients.

We have been extremely fortunate to work for many wonderful people over the years, including private individuals and commercial businesses, and we have enjoyed getting to know them professionally and personally. The relationships we develop with our clients are extremely important to us.

We were recently invited to attend a community event held in one of our recent timber frame projects. The timber frame is an 1860's barn that was relocated to Morgan County, Georgia. We repaired and replaced many of the original timbers, and also added on to the original barn.

The event was a fund raiser for a local hospital and was hosted by our clients in their newly completed "antique" timber frame. It was a very enjoyable evening and we were thrilled to see our clients' satisfaction and pride each time a guest complimented their beautiful timer framed building!

Tagged: timber frame georgia, timber frame, post and beam georgia, heavy timber construction, timber frame construction, timber framing  |  0 comments

Framespotting on my English Holiday

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Ansley Holder

Whit and I took a trip to the United Kingdom this summer. Although it was primarily for vacation, we visited a few English timber frame buildings, of course. Okay, we visited a TON of timber frames while we were there. Since our family and friends are probably sick and tired of seeing our photos and hearing our tales about these fabulous timber frames in England, I think it is time I share my experiences with the general public.

Being mostly familiar with the timber frame and post and beam structures in the Southeast United States, I was exited to be able to see the timber frame structures that inspired and influenced the first timber frames built in America over three hundred years ago and many of the historic reproduction timber frames currently being built in the States.

These are my top three favorite timber frames in random order:

-Heavy timber roof at Westminster Hall in London. Connected to the Houses of Parliament and right next to Big Ben, this historic timber structure has seen many notable events through the centuries. It was once the castle of the King of England, and William Wallace's trial took place here. The timber framed trusses have elaborate carvings of angels on the ends of the hammer beams. It was quite hard to photograph since it was so large, the trusses span sixty-seven feet! We were fortunate to be able to enter the building that day because it is often closed to the public since the Queen frequently entertains in Westminster Hall.

-Barley Hall, the restoration of a medieval period timber frame structure in Old York. The timber frame is a townhouse-like residence in the city. The York Archaeological Trust oversaw the restoration and preservation of this timber frame and for a small fee a visitor can see how people ate, slept, entertained guests and lived in medieval times. The house was built around 1360 and restored in 1992. It is great that the town realizes the importance of maintaining and restoring timber frame structures like Barley Hall.

-Hall of the Merchant Adventurers: Now doesn't this sound very "swashbuckling" and pirate-esque? This old timber framed building is on the outskirts of the old town of York and was built by the Merchant Adventurers of York between 1357-1361. It is the oldest surviving medieval guild hall in northern Europe. The merchant guild of York hired a carpenter to build this building as their headquarters. The group was made up of business men and women who made their living importing and exporting items, thus the name merchant adventurers. We were able to tour the building, even though the members of the Company of Merchant Adventurers were meeting that afternoon in the building. It also houses a gorgeous chapel in the basement.

In addition to spending time in timber framed museums, we also slept and ate in heavy timber buildings. We had to stay with our theme, right? My favorite meal was in a 15th century timber frame that houses St. William's College and a fairly formal restaurant directly behind the York Minster. This was by far the best food I ate while there. We spent one night in a converted post and beam barn off the beaten path of the average tourist.


I find it absolutely amazing to hear the stories of how these structures were built--to learn about where the timber came from, the carpenter's names, and the reason a building was built. To stand in a timber framed chapel in York and think of all of the prayers that have been said over the years in that very spot where I stand is both humbling and inspiring. I took this trip as a reminder of the fact that in 500 years people will be looking at our structures and the materials and methods we use to create buildings. I am proud to be able to have a hand in building timber frame churches, houses, and commercial buildings that will be considered historic in a few hundred years.

Tagged: timber frame preservation, historic timber frame, post and beam, timber frame, heavy timber, timber frame restoration, heavy timber roof, timber frame construction  |  0 comments

Standard Plans?

Posted on May 04, 2007 by Ansley Holder

A lot of people ask us if we have a catalog of home plans or if we design homes. While some timber frame companies have "standard plans", many offer home design services, and a few even have licensed architects on staff, we're a little bit different. Here's how.

Typically, our projects have several key members in addition to the client, the two most important being the architect and the general contractor. The architect designs the building, whether it is a home, library, church, barn, based on the client's needs, goals, and budget, as well as the site characteristics, and a host of other considerations. Once the design is finalized, the architect then creates the construction documents, putting on paper exactly what will be built and how it will be built in the form of a set of plans and written specifications. The general contractor takes these documents and agrees to build the project as spelled out in the construction documents.

Our role as specialty sub-contractors is to handle the heavy timber aspect of the project. Sometimes we are asked to consult with the architect about the design of the heavy timber structure, and sometimes the architect designs the timber frame and we engineer and build it. Either way, our involvement is limited to the heavy timber aspect of the project.

That's how it works in a nutshell. If you would like to know more about our company or this process, give us a call. We would love to answer your questions and discuss your project.

Tagged: standard plans, timber frame plans, timber frame design, timber frame, timber architecture  |  0 comments