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From tree trunk to roof shingles
Danish language workshop.
There it was. A quiet witness to a house, a roof and a craft where axe, wedges, drawknife and a deep understanding of wood made all the difference ...
In Ribe VikingeCenter you can experience a reconstructed farm estate. We call it Hvidinggården because, in the time of Harald Bluetooth, it was located in the village of Gammel Hviding. Archaeological excavations of the farm took place from 1986 to 1994, and many exciting finds were made. In a well outside the longhouse, archaeologists found, for example, an oak roof shingle. When the longhouse was later reconstructed at Ribe VikingeCenter, it was decided that the roof should be made of wooden shingles. In total, this resulted in 4,996 hand split roof shingles.
In this workshop you will take the axe in your own hands and try your strength at the very same craft. Using a splitting axe, we will split a section of oak trunk and feel how the wood works, just as it did a thousand years ago. It requires strength, technique and a sense of the wood’s own will. Once the wood sections are ready, they will be worked into roof shingles, first with an axe and then with a drawknife at the shaving bench. The work will alternate between standing and sitting, depending on the tool being used.
We will be working outdoors, so please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. You are welcome to bring your own water bottle.
Book your place on the workshop now!
Date: Monday 25 May 2026, Whit Monday
Duration: 11:00 to 13:00
Age: From 16 years
Number of participants: Minimum 2, maximum 5
Workshop price: DKK 175 plus admission
Booking deadline: 20 May. Registration is completed when you purchase a ticket. Please use the link at the top of this page.
Please note: This workshop is held in Danish only.
