ridgepole

architecture

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

In architecture, a ridgepole is the highest horizontal timber in a roof. It is the structural element where the upper ends of the rafters are fixed. The term can also refer to the horizontal pole at the top of a tent. The word "ridgepole" was first used in 1774.1

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construction
Primitive building: the Stone Age
…of columns to support a ridgepole and matching rows of columns along the long walls; rafters were run from the ridgepole to the wall beams. The lateral stability of the frame was achieved by burying the columns deep in the ground; the ridgepole and rafters were then tied to the…
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…of columns to support a ridgepole and matching rows of columns along the long walls; rafters were run from the ridgepole to the wall beams. The lateral stability of the frame was achieved by burying the columns deep in the ground; the ridgepole and rafters were then tied to the…
Read More