At the fifth edition of the HANDS ON CONSERVATION workshop in Apold, participants learned and practiced traditional carpentry and masonry techniques under the careful guidance of Sebastian Bethge, our specialist in the preservation of fortified churches, and skillfully applied them to the repairs needed to preserve the charm and authenticity of this fortified church ensemble. HOC V began with a review of the history of the fortified churches and an introduction to the topic of traditional craft techniques. The initial focus was on preparing the construction site and organizing the masonry and carpentry teams. The walls were cleaned and the concept of traditional timber construction was introduced as we selected and prepared the timber for the carpentry work. The carpenters made timber joints and worked on the timber frame so that our restoration project gradually took shape. After the wall segment was freshly cleaned, they learned about lime mortar, its chemical properties and the importance of moisture in wall restoration. Cavities were filled with mortar and wooden nails were made, bringing the project to life step by step.
In the second week of HOC V, our participants switched “workplaces” to learn skills in the two traditional trades – carpentry and bricklaying. Over the past few days, visitors to the fortified church have had the unique opportunity to observe our craftsmen in action, and some of them even decided to lend a hand themselves. We are grateful to the HOC V team for their commitment, their results, their energy and for inspiring us year after year to carry the HOC story forward. We would like to thank our reliable partner, the CasApold association, for organizing the workshop under the best conditions and for the unique and welcoming atmosphere in the inner courtyard of Apold’s fortified church.
