The Sail Makers

We wandered into this sprawling building on the edge of the Humber, on the outskirts of Hull*. We had found the name of a sail maker and we went to look for him. He was a bit surprised when we asked him if he could make us the canvas cover for a North American Indian tipi. I had found a book called "Tents: Architecture of the Nomads" and from that I had drawn an outline, with measurements, of what we wanted. When he saw what was expected of him he seemed quite keen. He gave us a price and we left it with him to complete.

In the meantime we managed to find around 16 slender and straight larch poles.

This old Standard 8 cine film shows the finished structure erected in the back garden. Everytime I put it up there was an accompanying ritual that started with the erection of a tripod of poles that acted as the basis for the supporting structure.

I still have the canvas cover but the poles are difficult to find now and expensive.

I went on to make a Mongolian Yurt with lattice-work walls made of ash. But that is another story.

* The building still exists. It is in the midst of a shopping centre, refurbished as an eaterie and called The Sail Makers!