Crinkle crankle wall
This crinkle crankle wall and curved gateway leads to private gardens. Inside this entrance there is a curved gate to match the wall. |
Pevsner’s Architectural Glossary (second edition) was published by Yale University Press in 2018. It defines a crinkle crankle wall as: ‘A garden wall undulating in a series of serpentine curves, especially in Suffolk’. This type of serpentine wall is also referred to as crinkum crankum, sinusoidal, ribbon or wavy wall. The term crinkle crankle was used in the late 1500s to describe an object with bends; it became associated with wavy walls in England in the 1700s.
In addition to being found in gardens (where they were sometimes used for growing fruit), crinkle crankle walls may have defensive purposes or may demarcate property boundaries.
A form of construction incorporating alternating curves was used in Ancient Egypt. It was also used by Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia. The technique typically requires less material than a traditional, straight wall, as the walls do not use mass to achieve lateral stability.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.
MHCLG demolition and retrofit survey closing this week
Helping to inform future updates to national planning policy.
London Build Fire and Security Expo
20-21 Nov and now with new Ambassador Programme..
The Scottish Building Safety Levy
Eight weeks of consultation closing on 18 November.
The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing
shifting policies from the wild west of housing development.
Future proofing homes that are fit for purpose
Specification challenges and the role of plastic.
Thousands of new homes unlocked for brownfield sites
£68 million to 54 councils for neglected land into new homes.
Roof terraces and higher-risk buildings
Context, review, interpretation, case and guidance..
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Architecture in Britain and Ireland, 1530 - 1830
Steven Brindle’s book is required reading.
Employment Rights Bill; making work pay
‘Biggest uplift in employment rights law since the 1970s’
Battle for Mill Road Free Library
Years of failures by the county and city councils.
The accolades that demonstrate and recognise outstanding achievement.
What is the Conference of the Parties ?
The who, where, what and when before no 29.
CIOB signs up to Green Skills At COP campaign
In preparation for COP29 on 11 November in Azerbaijan.
2024 ECA Industry Awards evening
Full list of electrical contractors scooping top prizes.
Briefing on the implications of the final Grenfell inquiry report
What it means for Architectural Technology professionals.