Why do medieval buildings overhang their lower floors?

Monday, January 20th, 2020

Why do medieval buildings overhang their lower floors?

(Hat tip to Alistair, who led me down the Shadiversity rabbit hole.)

Comments

  1. Another Fred says:

    Structurally, it balances the moment (twist) on the lower walls by having some load cantilevered. I don’t KNOW that this is the reason they did it. They may have just stumbled on it, but it does have that effect.

  2. The Real Kurt says:

    Launching night soil without dripping down the walls, splashing hot fluids on attackers, protection from ladders all seem more likely.

  3. Albion says:

    Interesting video, though I think the presenter didn’t quite nail the reason for the ‘jettying’ of stone at the battlements without machicolations. Yes, more visually appealing certainly but it served notable function in that it made the tower look more imposing.

    Near where I live there is an old factory with brick supporting square ‘tower’ and a larger iron tank for water(?) on top. Of course the tank holds more than the base dimensions, but it is more striking. I think in the same way castles had a larger top sections with the jettying, because it became more dynamic to the eye. Ones approaching enemies would see the structure’s towers more clearly as it was bigger and thus made aware of its majesty and perhaps its strength. More a case of ‘look how powerful we are to create this extra.’

  4. Voatboy says:

    Shad left out the important problem of water damage. Medieval buildings in Europe were often damaged by rain. Overhangs and gargoyles diverted rain and made buildings last longer.

  5. Voatboy says:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7P93CiKy1k4

    Unfortunately I can’t find the excellent video about why rain must not be allowed to cascade down walls, but it proved that it was very dangerous to building integrity, and it gave extensive explanation of why castles have pipes to drain rainwater at a distance from the wall. If you want to search for it, I think the old title mentioned “gargoyles” but youtube may have removed it.

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