Continental Roofs: Some New Clues—Part I

Abstract

AbstractFrom the point of view of vernacular architecture France is still the terra incognita of Western Europe, and from ignorance of the French evidence several misconceived theories have developed among scholars in northern Europe. The poincon (hung king-post) which is probably the most typical feature of French roofs is not a true post but a vertical brace in the dominant family of principal rafter roofs. The most common types of relation between posts, wall-plates and tie-beams are 'reversed assembly' and the 'anchor beam', common in most parts of France as in other Western European countries. The origins of these current vernacular patterns may be found in medieval aisled buildings (barns or market-halls) at a time when the French rafter roof was only found in buildings of high economic and artistic status. In vernacular architecture the French rafter roof has a mainly southern distribution and comprises only three basic types.The roof of the medieval peasant house before 1400 was seemingly of ridge...