From:
Simon <moonsong@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>
Date:
Wed, 8 Feb 2006 09:45:13 +0000 (UTC)
Subject:
Westminster Hammer beams
Quoted text begins.I am fascinated by Westminster's load bearing hammer beams and how they work.
Has anybody seen them personally?
Are they rooted in buttresses? Where are they jointed?
Is it possible to do this in stone?
End of quote.
Hi Daed,
What an interesting topic!
Hammer beams are just a series of timber triangles bolted back-to-back to form a
cantilever truss, sitting on a corbel. They are bolted to the aisle wall, not
built in, and transfer the weight of the roof straight down the wall. I've never
built one, but I've spent many hours staring up at them in various churches.
Wikipedia has a brief article:
http://tinyurl.com/dv9nr
I moved a corbel supporting a hammer beam in this church years ago - All Saints
at Spring Hill:
http://tinyurl.com/a47pp
http://tinyurl.com/dszeu
Another All Saints here:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an10571717-9
It would be possible to achieve the same effect in stone, but it would then be
called a ribbed arch:
http://tinyurl.com/82wl8
The hammer beam was developed in England as a lightweight alternative to the
heavy stone ceilings used in France during the Cathedral Age.
Regards,
Simon
- Follow-ups
- message 00342: Porphyry - abknight (08 Feb 2006)
- message 00339: Porphyry - abknight (08 Feb 2006)
- message 00338: Westminster Hammer beams - daedelus lanthanien (08 Feb 2006)
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