Somerset Oak & Beech Boards

18th and 19th Century English Oak reclaimed from the West Country. These boards come in a range of mellow browns and light greys with lightness in the sap and with darkened patches in the heartwood.The annual growth rings are handsomely marked in this Quarter Sawn batch and show as a glistening flame like pattern through the grain in what are known as 'Medulary Rays'. The grain itself is straight, with a coarse, variegated texture providing stability and strength. English Oak is famously hard and resistant to rot and decay. It is at once attractive and hard wearing which makes it suitable for decorative purposes in high-traffic situations such as public rooms, hallways and commercial premises. The cultural and historic associations of the English Oak, including it's status as king of the British woodland, have ensured its use throughout British history in vernacular architecture and joinery from Shakespeare's Globe to Hardwick Hall to Nelson's cabin on HMS Victory.