Gwanwyn's shelter

Purpose / Function

The building was originally a hut made by Gwanwyn to collect spring herbs growing on the nearby heaths and meadows. When crying bluebells and their potential were uncovered, it started to serve its current cause — a place for the weary to heal their deepest wounds. Here, the first spring tattoos were painted; by the faint, flickering lights of the campfire.

Within a few years, the shelter was rebuilt with the help of the local communities. It was thought a place of great importance and respect. Gwanwyn did a wonderful job healing the souls and the tale of the bluebells' special trait spread far and wide. Their secret — yet another flask on a dusty shelf. After their slow, but steady decrease in numbers, the visits too became less frequent. When one morning, the last patch of flowers was gone with the fragrant eastern wind, many villagers took that for an ominous sign. The need for the spring tattoo almost vanished. Now, the shelter is dedicated mostly to healing sicknesses of the body.

Alterations

Gwanwyn's first shelter by Jim Champion

Initial state

Originally the hut was a simple shelter with a wooden conical structure of small, fallen pines and moss. After the discovery of crying bluebells, the walls were made much thicker and the ground received better insulation.

Rebirth

After the first years the shelter was completely rebuilt to its current form. The walls were erected from the river boulders connected with an ash mortar. During this phase the shelter was adjusted to fit two beds in the main room, a storage space and a fireplace in the corner. Finally, the roof was thatched thick with reed and forest glass lead patched windows installed in every wall.

Architecture

The building is rectangular, roughly 5m wide and 6m long. The outside walls are made of river rocks and spruce logs. The stone part is about 1m high and the stones range from roughly the size of an adult's head to the double size of a human fist. Up to 4m the spruce logs are stacked, with swallow tail joints in the corners. From then on starts a steeply angled thatched roof. The inside walls are made of smaller, span wide logs.