ADRIAN
GIBSON MBE 1931-2006
and the geometrical layout of the Cressing Barns
A schoolmaster
by profession, Adrian Gibson promoted the study of timber-framed buildings.
Initially he was an archaeologist, but after meeting Cecil Hewett in 1965
he became a supporter of Cecil's theories and a specialist advisor on historic
timber-framed buildings.
He identified that geometrical methods were used to design the Cressing barns,
based on the geometrical property that each side of a hexagon within a circle
is the same length as the radius of that circle. Then once the carpenter had
decided the width for the nave, the barn could be laid out using just a square
and a compass (or during construction, a pegged & rotated cord).
The nave of this barn, the Wheat Barn, is 21ft 9in (6.63m) wide. The carpenter
drew a circle with this radius, and then using this same radius divided the
circle into 6 equal segments.
He then joined the points to form a rectangle. This rectangle is equal to two bays of the nave of the Wheat Barn. The carpenter then laid out a series of similar intersecting circles to give seven bays as shown below. The sides of the aisles are determined by the intersections of the circles and the end bays are shorter and set by drawing a square within the end circle as shown below.
When you
visit the Wheat Barn you can try this out yourself. There is a brass centre
point around which you can trace the outline of the circles with the cord
provided. The circles have also been marked out in special paint to illustrate
how the mediaeval architect would have laid out the building.
For more information see Adrian Gibson's article in Essex Archaeology and
History
Vol 27 (1996), "Further Light on the Design of the Great Barns at Cressing
Temple".
