Flint as a building material & in historic buildings
SATURDAY 18th JANUARY 2025
An illustrated talk by David Smith of the Flintman Company, Lewes.
With a visit to Rook Farm House to see the exterior of the house.
Nearly 70 people were at this event. The group walked to Rook Farm (on Rook Lane, opposite Doctors Lane) where David Smith explained examples of historical flint work on the house and then we all came back for the talk in the Village Hall afterwards.
David explained what flint is, and how and why it has been used through history and up to the present day as a building material. Using his wonderful range of images, David described notable styles of flint in buildings and showed us some spectacular examples. He also commented on images of Chaldon’s own flint buildings and significant ones nearby, including the Chapel from the Barracks, now Skaterham near Tesco. After the talk, David demonstrated flint knapping.
The afternoon included a photographic audit of flint buildings & structures in Chaldon and nearby.
David set up The Flintman Company in 1988 and his work preserves traditional flint techniques whilst also seeking to explore the material’s use through contemporary design and architecture. He is author of the book, Building with Flint (The Crowood Press, 2024). Locally, he has worked on Chaldon Court, both the house and the field walls.
We are very grateful to the owners of Rook Farm for hosting our visit to see the exterior of the house.
The proceeds from the talk (after costs were deducted) were given to the Friends of Chaldon Church to help maintain the church’s flint building. This was £238.50