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.  🙂

[jourdain2]

Is the Builder around?  Anyone?  Any offers at all - I've discarded 'fairy dust'.

[Milvus]

You can bend wood by steaming and then bending into a former. This could be made from stone or other pre-formed wood. If you take a look at a Windsor chair, the back support arch if formed by a wooden strip being steam manipulated. 

[barry1010]

I really don't think The Builder is that old.

I watched a documentary some years ago where they replicated building an arch in the same way the Normans did.

They built the walls to the required height then attached a wooden arch made by steaming wood to shape.

The built the arch up on both sides and the final, middle stone (keystone/ keepstone?) locked it all together, the same way they built bridges.  Then they could safely remove the wooden frame, with fingers crossed 

 

[jourdain2]

You wonderful people!  Thank you so much.  

Never thought of that (builder's age) Barry!  D'you think he'll forgive me?

[barry1010]

He'll suck his teeth, scratch his head , sigh - and then forgive you

[Tilly2]

Jourdain, have you read Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet?

It starts as story of an English cathedral stonemason journeyman and his subsequent offspring. Wonderful book.

[Tilly2]

Amazon.com User Recommendation?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&nis=6

[barry1010]

There was an awful lot of maths, calculations involved that went straight over my head, to work out the height and width of the arch, the size that stone would have to be. 

[Khandro]

Sorry, but I don't think carpenters went in for steaming wood ( boat builders yes). They would have simply sawn the curve from a wide board with a bow-saw. Made two identical frames and joined them together across the curved tops with a series of battens

[Khandro]

Comme ca (can't do the cedilla on German keyboard!)  🙂 

 

https://ibb.co/YbwyQD7

[barry1010]

I think you are right, Khandro.  

[The Builder]

🤣  Yep... not quite old enough to remember, but I might have been there in a previous life  😉

Timber formwork as described by Herr Khandro most likely. We would still do that today. Pre-made metal 'centering', as it's known, is often used now, but that's mainly for standard size spans.  Bridges etc need formwork that's made to measure.

Certainly no need for steaming.  Short pieces of timber to form the shape of the arch, propped to hold them in place.  Then cut battens through the arch (at right-angles to it). They don't even have to be 'close-fitted' if the stones/blocks are big enough. 

Everyone has their preferred method, but the principle is as old as time. You build up the left and right sides at the same time, and finish with the last stone, which may not necessarily be right in the middle unless it's a decorative arch.

I'm sounding rather like Prof. P. Pedant now, but you may like to know that either side of the 'Keystone', the others are called 'Voussoirs', but that's usually for decorative brickwork. Same principle for bridges or any structural arch.

For churches, it's worth searching Wikipedia for 'Barrel Vault'.

[brainiac]

Now perhaps someone would explain how on earth they built spires such as the one on Salisbury Cathedral without metal scaffolding?  Come to that, how did they build the great cathedrals at all, with wooden scaffolding only able to bear weight up to a relatively small height?  Holes in the stonework for wooden beams, then taken out and filled in as they worked their way back down?

[The Builder]

Bamboo pole scaffolding is still used all over Asia in particular.

If it's constructed properly and tied-in (linked to the building), then you could theoretically go on and on.

Known as 'rope & pole' in this country, I've worked with people who certainly remembered it in their lifetimes.

[Khandro]

Before the invention of the circular saw in the late 18th cent. all timber was hand sawn, which was slow & labour intensive, so The Builder's, 'rope & pole ' method for cathedral building would be rough tree branches lashed together with ropes, a bit precarious and there are records of fatal accidents & falls.

[The Builder]

Another 'fun fact' Khandro...

The short (5' or 1500mm) 'rests' that the boards sit on are still known as 'putlogs'.

As in... a log  for 'putting' the boards on.

As is usually the case with these things, it's probably just a coincidence. The were originally called 'putlocks' since they 'lock' into the building.  

[Khandro]

Builder; Interesting.

I've been thinking though; carpenters & masons were too grand to deal with poles, branches & ropes for the huge structures needed in cathedrals, so there must have been a separate group of skilled men who specialised in erecting the scaffolding, lives depended on it so it was important: as scaffolding is today.

I've never heard any mention of it as a trade though it must have existed & have had a name.

[JimF]

"can't do the cedilla on German keyboard"

Press the Alt key and, keeping it pressed, type 0231 on the keypad - ç

[The Builder]

Khandro - I've never given it a thought. It is a highly skilled trade. Always has been. I can't find anything online to help.

The building trade has always been rather 'feudal'. Highly regarded trades such as carpenters/masons/pargetters  etc... and labourers. Sort of Gentry v hoi polloi.  Farming is still much the same... farmer v farmworker.

I imagine it was a matter of status... officers and other ranks. Master Tradesmen were the officers, labourers were the other ranks, with NCOs such as drainlayers and scaffolders, to distinguish them from the normal 'muscle'.

[jourdain2]

WOW!  Once the floodgates open - what a wealthe of knowledge is on here. 

Barry, would you mind if I chaged BA?  I was dubious, myself, about steaming at that time in history.  So much esoteric knowledge out there - alll waiting.

Once I've fully absorbed it all I will try to somehow included it all in the text.  Thank you so much.