A Viking dye house
This is a Grubehus, part of the reconstructed Viking village next to Fyrkat fort, Denmark. The floor of the Grubehus was lower than the outside level, with roughly half the room height was below the ground so that:
This type of building was often used as workshops and stores, although they were also used as homes, mainly by poorer people.
If you look at the picture on the right you will see turf reinforcing the ridge.
- that there is more headroom than in other designs, and
- insulation is good, so the house that is cool in summer and mainly frost free in the winter.
This type of building was often used as workshops and stores, although they were also used as homes, mainly by poorer people.
If you look at the picture on the right you will see turf reinforcing the ridge.
This one has been set up as a dye house, complete with naturally coloured wool hanging up to dry. I was really tempted to buy some, but couldn't think of a project quickly enough.
Back to Denmark.