Index

18 May 2011

Pitman's Vol 14 - Arch History


Front Cover of Volume 14
Building Educator
Volume 14


by R Greenhalgh (Ed)

Published by Pitman & Sons Ltd
16th April 1927

No ISBN number

Extract from pages 647-654

Origins
The actual origin of the arch is somewhat vague. As far as can be traced, it was first used as an ornamental feature in some of the ancient buildings of Western Asia

The great arch at the entrance to the Palace of Ctesiphon, Assyria, A.D.550, see below, has a enormous span of 83 ft


Palace of Ctesiphon. Image from Atlas Tours
The pointed arch is assumed by some to have originated with the building of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo, built in the ninth century, see below


Ibn Tulun Mosque. Image from 123urdupoint.com
The pointed arches of this mosque, with a span of 15 ft, are considered among the finest examples of ancient craftsmanship in arch construction

The pointed arch was, however, known to have been
used as early as 722 B.C. in the construction of drains and culverts, but was very crude in its form

Flat arches were probably the outcome of a desire to imitate the keyed lintels to the square openings constructed with stone in buildings of the Renaissance


Flat arch, also known as Camber arch
Image from Conserve Engineer.blogspot.com
Built in brick, they lack the dignity, strength, and stability of the massive stone lintels of that period

Whether in stone or brick, they are a weak form of construction, and cannot correctly be defined as arches, but only as a method for spanning an opening


Roman Semi-circular arch
Image from 2ols.com
The arch proper, came into general use with the advent of the Roman Empire

It still remains one of the chief features in architectural design, even in the present era of concrete and steel
Corbels
The introduction of the arch was preceded by the use of the corbel and lintel. Projecting courses were built from the side walls and continued until they met at the apex
of a triangle, or so far reduced the span that it could be safely bridged with a single stone


Corbelled brick opening
Image from Builder Bill
As can be seen, corbelling is a primitive method

It is likely to become unstable, without the weight of the wall above and on either side, known as the spandrel

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