Yellow Balau

These planks of wood, the lower ones 16 feet long, have been sawn from two great baulks of timber that were way beams on the Settle-Carlisle railway. Way beams are hardwood sleepers used at places of high stress such as points. You can still see the marks where rail chairs have been bolted to them. We intend to use this wood for the treads and risers of staircases and for two window sills.

The long planks are identified as tropical hardwood Yellow Balau. The darker ones have still to be identified.

What is for certain, these pieces of wood will be beautiful when fitted - as well as being historically appropriate.

They were cut from the baulks this week and are seen here stacked for drying at Wonder of Wood's yard at Stainforth.