Pitsawn timber dates back to the mid 17th Century (if not earlier). Pitsawn floor boards were cut from logs with a two-man saw, with the chief (or “topman”) working on top of the log following the cut line and his apprentice (or “underman”) working below in the pit. Sawyers were paid by the amount of wood that was cut as well as the difficulty of cutting the wood. Cutting oak paid the highest amount.
Since the Industrial Revolution, mechanical processes were introduced to cut wood and therefore real or reclaimed pitsawn wood retains a hand-crafted charm and aesthetic that is not found with modern cutting techniques.
Pitsawn floor boards commissioned for Hatfield House
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