The Arch
by Alice French, Director of Education
You may not realize it, but the arch is used a lot in masonry as can be seen in these examples at Menokin. The thing about arches is they distribute their load equally across their surface allowing for a very sturdy and stable structure. Some arches, like the one over the front door include a keystone at the center and top.
Black and white image of the front door arch, featuring the keystone at the top.
An arch that extends out from a tall stone or brick wall is a flying buttress. It acts as a support by pushing from the outside and redistributing the sheer force of the load as can be seen next to our chimney stacks.
Arches used to redistribute weight can be found in the cellar of Menokin.
When the arch continues its form it becomes a vault, like a tunnel. An example of that can be seen in the barrel vault of Menokin’s wine cellar. The arch is used again above other openings such as fireplaces to carry the weight of the chimney stack above it.
