I usually take the dog out early in the morning before people are about and off the beaten track so I rarely see anybody , this morning I went down to a local wood which backs onto a seasonal caravan park owned by the National Trust which is of course shut now at the moment . The Trust have been doing some work in the wood and have started charcoal burning .
Nowadays they use a metal contraption to burn the wood rather than stacking turf over it as they did in Victorian times , then it had to be manned constantly for several days to get the process right - to much oxygen and it just burnt - to little and it just went out !
The modern method doesn't need anybody to man it around the clock and various air holes are blocked - kept open to get the process right . Will have a wander around there in a day or two to see how things are going .
Charcoal burning in the 'old days'
Interesting Contraption- I knew about Charcoal Burning in the old days from a book I had as a youngster though never really understood it. Stay well there Tony. Cheers. KEV.
ReplyDeleteThe modern way seems a lot more efficient and not as work intensive .
DeleteI'm sure that REAL charcoal burning requires an old crone in rags or at least an old codger with a hood drawn about his face or perhaps a child who is really a faery in disguise...
ReplyDeleteI suspect so - the total absence of crones was noted !
DeleteNice description of charcoal burners in the woods in Swallows and Amazons, in the book and children's 70s film including a snake in a tin.
ReplyDeleteYes all the woodland around here is coppiced and was used for charcoal burning and used in iron smelting .
DeleteMust have been quite intriguing to see that going all by its lonesome early in the morning.
ReplyDeleteYes the dog was most intrigued by it .
DeleteFascinating post. I first heard about charcoal burning in Brendon Chase by "BB". Well worth a read if you can.
ReplyDeleteWill look that up .
DeleteThat could make for an interesting little vignette for you imaginations collection...
ReplyDeleteAll the best. Aly
Now there's a thought !?
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