Timber has been used for building houses since time immemorial, but only with the advent of new technical ideas in the 13th century did timber frame houses achieve the style and longevity that have become their hallmark. The first breakthrough was the use of stone foundations, which prevented building timber from rotting. The development ofthe mortice and tenon joint meant timbers could be joined together securely, allowing ever-more elaborate designs to be created. As the beautiful timber-framed - or half-timbered, as they are commonly described - houses that adornEnglands towns and countryside attest, timber framing is part of our national heritage. However, as populations and cities grew, bricks became more and more popular as building materials. It was not only their economy that attracted. So much of Britains timber was being cut down to build the ships that defended our shores that alternative materials simply had to be sought and deployed. Yet the craft of building houses with timber frames never died out, and today it is enjoying a new boom, as modern homeowners and builders come to understand not only the simplicity, practicalityand beauty of timber framing, but also the economic and environmental benefits it brings. 
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