Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This vast hall—covering 16,000 square feet—survived the 1834 fire, and is one of the
oldest and most important buildings in England. Begun in 1097, the hall was greatly re-
modeled around 1390 by Richard II, who made it the grandest space in Europe. His self-
supporting oak-timber roof (1397) wowed everyone. Unlike earlier roofs that spanned the
hall with long beams, this “hammer-beam” roof uses short beams that jut horizontally out
from the walls. They're part of a complex system of curved braces and arches that distrib-
ute the weight of the roof outward to the walls, not downward to the floor, so there's no
need for supporting pillars. The 26 carved angels also do their part to hold up the 650-ton
roof.
