hammer-beam roof
hammer-beam roof, English medieval timber roof system used when a long span was needed. Not a true truss, the construction is similar to corbeled masonry (see corbel) in that each set of beams steps upward (and inward) by resting on the ones below by means of curved braces and struts. The roof of Richard IIβs Westminster Hall in London (1402), with a 70-ft (21-m) span, is an excellent example.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
hammer-beam roof
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
14 February 2017
Access Date:
November 14, 2026