|
|
|
|
|
Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin
The 15th century nave has a double hammerbeam roof with pierced wood designs and multiple carved, wooden angels. A hammer beam construction consists of the horizontal projection of the roof beam from the wall, braced by a curving strut that rest on wall posts. A vertical post from the end of the beam projects upward, meeting the rafters; another curves over the open space and comes down on the hammer beam on the opposite side. A double hammer beam system adds a second row of horizontal beams with their upper and lower braces. A 15th-century rood [cross], screen (but without the cross) separates the chancel from the nave. A canopy of honor for the rood is still extant over the chancel arch.
|