Worth a visit if you're nearby...

[Penners]

We've just got back from a few days near Bradford on Avon (lovely area). Just outside BoA there's a C14th tithe barn with a wonderful roof. EH have also thoughtfully put up a notice board with a diagram explaining the structure of the roof.

I'm including a picture of both below. I'm hoping that the explanatory diagram is readable - here goes:

 

[middi]

Nice example Penners.

If the same picture were to be turned upside down one could be forgiven for assuming that it was the hull of a boat in construction.

After all the intention was to keep the water out in whichever position it was used.

 

[Penners]

A good point, Middi. However, that large hole in the bow might prove a bit of a problem!

You would love the work that's gone into the roof construction, not to say the incredibly good state of that ancient oak. Do visit the barn if you're ever nearby.

 

[NT]

You may need to paste this into a non-proportional font app, eg notepad:

/\
/ \
/____\
/ \
/________\
/ .''. \
/ .' '. \
/ .' '. \
/.' '.\
/' '\
/ \


Question is, why would the top crosspiece be needed? afaics it isnt. Lower one is crucial to the structure.


NT

 

[Penners]

I think the building precedes structural engineers by several hundred years. So roof structures like this were designed on the basis of experience, plus a belt-and-braces, over-engineered approach. I also suspect that there was an element of showing off involved.

So who knows whether the upper collar was strictly necessary? A modern engineer would probably tell you that the entire structure is over-engineered by a factor of about four. But that has left us with a wonderful legacy that's lasted over 600 years and will probably last as long again.