Terminology

[Penners]

I would call it a 'rail'....................... joist bearers are called 'girt' (old term for girth)......

Whereas "Penners Beam" is a term for 'old git'.

 

[Penners]

I think that the trouble with the Penners Beam, is that it really doesn't have much to do with windows. It's part of the box frame. The window just happens to be stuck in one of the gaps in the framing to allow more light in than the normal wattle and daub.

W-e-e-ell - sort of. But surely it has a relevance to windows in that normally several of the box frame studs are cut, and then stabilised with a lintel above and a PB below, to create a rectangular hole.

 

[andrew gayton]

Same applies to whatever the framing is - box/post and truss/cruck - all have studding!