Wednesday 18 May 2022

Table Talk

 Back in 2019 - those heady pre-pandemic days when people did not have to socially distance, I posted a picture of some people carrying some wood...

This was the Fenland Black Oak Project. Hamish Low, a cabinet maker, who has worked a lot with ancient bog oak, found an incredibly large tree in the Norfolk Fens in 2012. A fallen tree which had lain undisturbed for 4800 years. 
Hamish and his team, and some huge excavators removed the tree from the Fens, and in specially built dehumidifying kilns, the planks, 13 metres long were dried out.
It was agreed that this wood should be made into a special table for the nation, to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and ten years later, the project is complete.The making of the table top was a phenomenal exercise. Four large planks, with 'river joints' - there are the outer two folding down to make the table easier to move into different locations, and the strong bronze under structure supporting the weight.
And now it is safely installed in Ely Cathedral, and was officially unveiled by Princess Anne yesterday. 
It was originally going into the Lady Chapel, but proved too big for the space, so is now at the side of the Nave. It will be in Ely till March 2023. I really want to visit!
Fans of "The Crown" will know that Ely Cathedral was used for filming the Coronation, when it 'stood in' for Westminster Abbey!




20 comments:

  1. How beautiful and yes I'd like to go and visit too

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    1. I cannot find out where it is going after Ely.

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  2. I saw this on Anglia News yesterday, it is beautiful but there can't be very many places which would be able to house it and the weight must be off the scale.

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    1. I know that they had a specially made plane to trim the planks which had to be able to hold 250kilos. So probably it weighs a ton!

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  3. How amazing. I followed the link - the making of the table top is something else!

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  4. Heard about this on news yesterday. Would love to see it. My OU graduation ceremony was in Ely cathedral, it made it a very special occasion.

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    1. I'd forgotten that your graduation was there. Such awesome surroundings for such a special day!

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  5. Wow, that is amazing. I would love to see it.

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  6. What an amazing and interesting story! Amazing table, too. I'm so glad this awesome tree was put to a good use after being found.
    Ta, Ang!

    Hugs!

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  7. I knew when I saw the article on the news I had read about this somewhere! Obviously on your blog. Thank you for the update. It is an absolutely fascinating project. As for the odd socks, they hang around for ages and usually catch up with their mates as I rarely throw any away.

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    1. If I DO get to Ely I will be sure to take pictures for the blog

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  8. What a wonderful table. To think that the wood was so incredibly old!

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  9. Gorgeous table. That I would also love to see!

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  10. So beautiful, and what a story with it!

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  11. Thanks everyone- it is definitely a story worth sharing

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