The pole lathes have been in action, turning bits of ash to make the legs for the Roman couch. The design is based on the legs shown on the tombstone of Aelia Aeliana from York. Some large bits of birch have been donated by Anne and Dave for turning bowls and platters. The birch was half split and the pith removed. For the platter blanks the log was split using a froe. The wood is kept wrapped to to reduce the speed of drying out.