An insight into construction techniques from the later medieval era has been gained from restoration work at the Binnenhof in The Hague.
The ongoing restoration of the historic complex which houses the Dutch parliament and government offices included the spire over the Torentje - or Little Tower - which was rebuilt by the Emperor Charles V in 1547 with the addition of the spire. The tower now houses the office of the Prime Minister.
When the timbers of the roof were examined Roman numerals were found cut into the timber, indicating the structure had been built elsewhere, the parts numbered, then dismantled and taken to the new tower and reassembled.
The Torentje
Image:tripadvisor.co.uk
The website of Dutch News has an account of the discovery with further details at Roof of PM’s office is original 16th-century flat-plack
The fact that this timber roof was created in this ways leads one to wonder how frequently this method was employed for timber framed church spires or for church and hall roofs in the medieval period.
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