Donate SIGN UP

How Did The Normans Build Arches In 1086?

Avatar Image
jourdain2 | 19:53 Fri 06th Oct 2023 | History
25 Answers

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.  🙂

Gravatar

Answers

21 to 25 of 25rss feed

First Previous 1 2

Avatar Image
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...
08:11 Sat 07th Oct 2023

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

çheers !  🙂

Question Author

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!

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.

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

techical answers require technical terms

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

21 to 25 of 25rss feed

First Previous 1 2

Do you know the answer?

How Did The Normans Build Arches In 1086?

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.