Carpenters’ Marks at a Georgian Mill in Brackley

While carrying out a survey and valuation at a late eighteenth-century mill house in Brackley this week, we came across a series of original carpenters’ marks on the roof trusses.

Each joint carries Roman numerals cut neatly into the oak — the eighteenth-century equivalent of an IKEA flat-pack guide. At the carpenter’s yard, workers laid the roof frame out on the ground and assembled it in full. This check confirmed that every joint fitted correctly. They then marked the timbers, dismantled the frame, transported it to site, and reassembled it in the same order. The process was simple, reliable, and remarkably effective.

Carpenters used Roman numerals because they could cut them quickly with straight chisel strokes, even on rough timber. The marks were clear, durable, and perfectly suited to the tools of the period. More than two centuries after the mill house trusses went up, the numerals still stand out. They offer a quiet reminder that these Georgian roof frames were made with skill and built to last.

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