Phew I've just spent an amazing Morris weekend watching two local sides dancing [as part of the May day celebrations Broadwood Morris dance in a local church!] and performing with Mythago as part of the Sweeps Festival in Rochester. Over lunchtime I popped into the cathedral and found this huge 13m oak table on display in the nave.
Aside from its size the most surprising thing is it has been made from a piece of 5000 year old black bog oak which was discovered purely by chance preserved in the peat of Wissington Fens in 2012. Due to its year of discovery coinciding with the Diamond Jubilee it was named the Jubilee Oak. If this was only a section heaven only knows how big the original tree must have been. This type of oak is the densest native hardwood and the only naturally black one. I was interested to learn that it also gives a unique sound when made into musical instruments and is much sought after for that reason. Maybe not surprisingly it took nine months to dry the wood out and in that time 1795 litres of water came out of it, but what is incredible is that it could still be used after all this time. It was cut into planks which retained the original length of the piece and special so called river joints [those wavy lines you can see running down it] where created to fix it all together. It was completed in 2022 and is intended for people to be able to touch it and sit down at it so it can be used. When I was there it had been placed at the centre of a concert and different singers were moving around it.
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The plan is that the table will be moved around. So far it's been in Ely and it remains here until early 2024.
Arilx
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Isn't that the most amazing table? Boggles the mind that the bog oak wood is estimated to be over 5000 years old. The vision and skill involved in the creation of this magnificent table is awe-inspiring. Here's a link with the story & photos of this magnificent table. https://www.thefenlandblackoakproject.co.uk/our-story
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the link. I've enjoyed learning even more about this fabulous table. Arilx
DeleteThat is the most amazing story I think you've ever told us. 5000 years old. Oh my mind boggles at such a wonderous thing. I'm glad that it was used to create something for people to marvel over.
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible to see for real too....so long! Arilx
DeleteI heard about that table when it was in East Anglia, didn't realise it was going to move around. More than a-man-with-a-van needed for that job!
ReplyDeleteA big lorry I would imagine! Arilx
DeleteWhat a whopper! x
ReplyDeleteIndeed and it's stunningly beautiful close up to. Arilx
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