How the Romans built their roofs

Timber buildings on the original high street in Londinium had wooden roof frames with gables at each end. Above this frame two techniques were used to top the roof:

• Wooden planks of oak were laid either vertically or horizontally along the roof struts. They were help in place by large iron nails up to 60mm long. These roofs were set at an angle of 35-40 degrees.

• Tile roofs were used on more substantial timber-framed buildings. Large, flat tiles with lipped sides (tegulae) were laid down and butted together and the joint covered by curved tiles (imbrices). The roof was angled at 30 degrees to spread the weight.

Evidence from the Poultry dig

Archaeologists found evidence of both techniques at the Poultry dig. Numerous iron nails from the planked roofs were found, as well as fragments of both types of tile. The roof spaces within the buildings may have been used as lofts for sleeping quarters or storage.

Reconstructing High Street Londinium

In High Street Londinium we have recreated three different roof structures using the information discovered at Poultry. Carpenters prefabricated the roofs off-site and then set them up in the Museum on top of the reconstructed walls.

• The bakery has a vertical planked roof. It is shown as old and in need of repair, with moss and algae growing on it.

• The craftworker's house has a horizontal planked roof. It is in reasonable condition, with only a little moss in places.

• The merchant's shop has a more substantial tiled roof. One area is still in the process of being tiled.

The following topics can also be seen in this section:

• Walls
• Windows and Doors
• Roads and Drainage

Description of image(s) on this page

Tiled roof: Drawing of a tiled roof showing how the flat and curved tiles fit together.

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Building Techniques | The Reconstructions | Background Information | High Street Londinium Main Page

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