15 year old seasoned oak beams located within galvanised location brackets - site is periodically used for film and TV productions and therefore required to be removed and in line with the initial brief. Health & Safety was an issue that was considered as well as the sheer ridgidity of the structure in terms of the prevention of possible vandalism.
The original Cosmeston village grew up around a fortified manor house built by the De Costentin family in the early twelfth century. The De Costentin's were Norman knights who had come to Britain with William the Conqueror and then moved on to undertake the conquest of Wales with Robert Fitzhamon.
The original manor house, like the village itself, has long disappeared - being in ruins by 1437 - although its location is now known. The village was called Costentinstune, after the family of the first Lord of the Manor and the part of France where they originated, but over the years the name was altered and changed by local pronunciation. Eventually the village came to be known as Cosmeston.
Some of the Actors who recreated the scenes depicted in the Interpretation Panels and help to create a flavour of life in 14 century Cosmeston.
Besides the Time Log element of the interpretation panels, each plinth has a carving refecting the usage of each building and part of the visual elements directed at school children for the purpose of further classroom interaction.