Westminster Hall Roof Design

9 the form and structure of the roof carpentry of the great hall as built 1097 99 by william ii rufus is unknown.

Westminster hall roof design.

The angel roof at westminster hall looking west. Measuring 20 7 by 73 2 metres 68 by 240 feet the roof was commissioned in 1393 by richard ii and is a masterpiece of design. The design ofthe westminster. Samanthan tan this is a close up of the hammer beam roof constructed by hugh herland in the late fourteenth century.

The magnificent hammer beam roof of westminster hall is the largest medieval timber roof in northern europe. 1395 by hugh herland and stands as one of the great achievements of english monumental carpentry. Harris and daniel miles have recently proposed a tie beam roof. Westminster hall has the largest clearspan medieval roof in england measuring 20 7 by 73 2 metres 68 by 240 ft.

Westminster hall a symbol of royal power stood the test of time throughout a majority of the middle ages and served as the center of law government and even celebration. Many attempts have been made to determine how the westminster hall roof works and nearly as many different conclusions have been reached figs i 3 and 4 1 some architects engineers and architectural historians have concluded that the principal support of the roof is provided by its great wooden arch. This is the largest medieval timber roof in northern europe with a span of 68 feet x 240 feet. When the roof was built to span the vast un aisled interior of nearly 68 feet it was 50 percent wider than any previously known hall in england.

Romanesque westminster hall and its roof in westminster ii the art architecture and archaeology of the royal palace eds rodwell and tatton brown pp. The work was largely undertaken by the king s chief mason. It has been estimated that the roof timbers alone weigh over 660 tons. Hence this unique framing.