Britains oldest timber bridge

The bridge has been dendro-dated to the 11th century AD

clipped from www.independent.co.uk Medieval timber bridge unearthed in gravel pit: Discovery of 11th-century remains shed light on development of English carpentry. David Keys reports BRITAIN’S oldest large-scale example of sophisticated medieval wooden architecture has been discovered – buried 12ft deep in a gravel pit in Leicestershire. Now, after four weeks digging, the substantial remains of a great medieval timber bridge have emerged. Dating work on the timbers – conducted by the University of Nottingham tree ring dating laboratory – show that the bridge was constructed in the late 11th century, at about the time of the Domesday Book. About 25 per cent of the bridge’s timbers have survived, including Britain’s earliest known large-scale examples of sophisticated carpentry. The structure is 30 to 40 yards long, 10ft wide and was built using at least eight different types of lap and butt joints.

Glossary of Church Architecture

a useful guide to what all those words mean in architecture

clipped from www.britainexpress.com Glossary of Church Architecture Altar – the holiest part of a church. In the medieval period the altar was a table or rectangular slab made of stone or marble, often set upon a raised step. After the Reformation the stone altars were replaced by wooden communion tables. Ambulatory – a covered passage behind the altar, linking it with chapels at the east end of the church. Apse – the domed or vaulted east end of the church. In Britain the apse is generally squared off, while on the continent, rounded apses were common. Baptistery – where the font was stored and baptisms were performed, generally near the west door. Sometimes a screen or grille separates the baptistery from the nave. Bay – a vertical division, usually marked by vertical shafts or supporting columns. Bell Tower – a tower where the church bells were installed. This could be separate from the church, or, more usually, attached. Sometimes called a campanile. Chancel – the eastern end of a church.

beautiful Russian timber architecture

I can’t believe these buildings have just been left abandoned

clipped from englishrussia.com Some other masterpieces of Russian medieval wooden architecture were found abandoned. Some of them look like they are just left – even some furniture stays on its places. The reason they are so undisturbed – it stays deep inside the Russian forests.