How Did The Normans Build Arches In 1086?

[jourdain2]

Not sure if  I'm in  the right section, but here goes.

I'm writing an historical novel and have reached a point where I need to make a bit of a feature of/explain how the arch over one of King William's 'conscience' churches would have been built - in some detail.

I know, of course, about the keystone and a wooden template to act as support.  But what sort of wood?  Could it have been bent?  They didn't have plywood of course.

Did they, as I suspect, fasten planks together and then cut a pattern, which would be supported on the pillars?  If so, how did they connect to the pillars?

ALL ideas gratefully received --- funy in what directions creative writing takes you.  🙂

[Khandro]

JimF //" I can't do the cedilla on German keyboard, "Press the Alt key and, keeping it pressed, type 0231 on the keypad //

çheers !  🙂

[jourdain2]

F.A.O. The Builder - thought you'd like to know that  I've managed to  get 'Voussoirs' into my story - that should send a few folk to their computers!

[Barsel]

Tilly, if you come back, did you ever watch Pillars of the Earth on the TV?

It really fascinates me how they managed to build such beautiful buildings with the tools that they had in those days.

[jno]

ah yes, Clochemerle was about a voussoir, wasn't it? Or maybe I misremember...

[Peter Pedant]

techical answers require technical terms

no one should be ashamed of declaring the great majority oof Abers are morons. Wiki - 'falsework'