The malleable twig withies (or ‘wandys’) were woven around the staves in the same manner as a hurdle or a basket weave, their direction of entry alternating with each course. The elasticity of the green withies provided stiffness to the panel. Green cleft oak lath could be woven in a similar manner, as could thin bark strips.[28] Wattle panels were initially of withies, used in the round or split into halves or slats. Evidence suggests that laths may not have been used until the 14th or 15th century and such early use may have been a Wessex practice, although withies also continued to be used wherever the craft prevailed.

For buildings that survive today, the predominant withy material found is hazel. This may not have always been the only wood routinely used. There is evidence that the use of willow (sallow / osiers) was also common, together with a variety of other slender rods of ash, birch, lime and almost any other flexible green woods that were to hand. Reed was also utilised and was particularly suited to close studding.[29]

Laths from the middle ages were usually of oak or beech.[30] During the reign of Edward III, the size was regulated by statute as 1” x ½” and again by statute in 1528 as 5’ x 2” x ½” but are often as wide as 4”. Briggs (1925) states early lathing was nailed on to the frame surface and daubed so the timbers were not on show, but evidence of this practice is not given. Where the laths were nailed to thick staves or studs, the daub was often applied like plaster and the panels were therefore hollow. The void was often filled with straw or bran.

The supply of withies from coppice woods was often in the form of underwood that shared space with timber trees. Managed coppicing was well established by the middle ages, especially in areas of intensive sheep farming such as Hampshire, Wiltshire, West Sussex and Dorset where hurdles were used as fencing [Figur[31]].31 Whilst it is generally accepted that large timbers may have been transported significant distances for the construction of the more substantial house, coppice wood may also have been transported to supply woodless areas, even during the medieval period when the coverage of woodland was not significantly declining. Where managed woods were not available, a local source may have been found from great lengths of[32]edgerow.32 The coppice cycle was typically four to eight years, although underwood may also have been taken when required. Growth of approximately seven years was ideal for producing withies. Since a practical width is approximately 12 to 25mm, large sections could be quartered and small sections or the finer ends could be used whole. The wood was best cut during the winter since there was less sap which weakened it and made it prone to insect and funga[33]attacks.33 However, it needed to be used before it seasoned, otherwise it became too stiff to weave and would snap when bent. On cold days the withies could be softened by warming ov[34] a fire.34 The removal of bark might have been to further reduce the risk of rot and beetle attack, but frequently it was retained.

The withies were often worked using a spar hook (or ‘spar knife’), a smaller version of a billhook. It has a thin blade which is easier to position within narrower withies. The tool has almost completely vanished, except for a few thatchers and hurdle makers who prefer them to the larger family member. Where a groove was provided in the sides of the posts, the ends of the wider withies may have been reduced to fit by cutting diagonally or removing half of the section using the spar hook or axe [Figure 16].

Lath was riven using a drawknife or a lath-maker’s froe, also known as a lath axe [Figure 17]. Where laths were secured by nailing, a gap was required between adjacent laths to provide a key for the daub. However, when woven, they would be packed tight against each other, as were the withies, since gaps would be created naturally within the weave thickness. Clifton-Taylor (1962) suggests that laths were always nailed yet Rackham has observed the bast fibres (phloem) from lime used [35] string.35 Thompson (2003) suggests that both nails and string may have been used to secure laths to t[36] staves.36 Contradictorily, Wright (1991) says the presence of nails, string or wire indicate later repairs, but evidence of tying both laths and withies suggests otherwise [Figure 18].