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| Thread ID: 84689 | 2007-11-15 02:00:00 | Know what it's called? | Roscoe (6288) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 611581 | 2007-11-15 02:00:00 | On many of the old bungalows around the country there is a short, usually turned, wooden pole protruding skyward from the point of the roof. I understand that, originally, they were to keep witches away. Today, for us more enlightened types, they are purely decorative. Any idea what they are called? There are some houses that have had them cut off at roof level, leaving the remainder below. Why would they cut them off? Don't believe in witches? I'm certain there is someone who will know. Thanks. |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
| 611582 | 2007-11-15 02:29:00 | On many of the old bungalows around the country there is a short, usually turned, wooden pole protruding skyward from the point of the roof. I understand that, originally, they were to keep witches away. Today, for us more enlightened types, they are purely decorative. Any idea what they are called? There are some houses that have had them cut off at roof level, leaving the remainder below. Why would they cut them off? Don't believe in witches? I'm certain there is someone who will know. Thanks. I think they are called a finneal, but I can't find it in my dictionary. Found it - www.bungalowandvilla.co.nz Spelt finial on that website. And here - en.wikipedia.org |
John H (8) | ||
| 611583 | 2007-11-15 02:37:00 | Sorry, I missed part of your question. I think people cut them off as a matter of taste. As the fashion moved from the ornate villa to the plainer bungalow style there was a lot of simplification of the design of a house and abandonment of frippery. Sad, but I would suspect that is why they went. That, and cost. |
John H (8) | ||
| 611584 | 2007-11-15 05:09:00 | Some years ago the Wizard of Christchurch visited Auckland and didn't like the place. He blamed it all on the modern tendancy for AK home owners to cut the finials off (thereby allowing witches to land on the gable) Guess we're all doomed then. |
decibel (11645) | ||
| 611585 | 2007-11-15 07:33:00 | Well, the house he lived in in ChaCha burned down. I wonder if a witch landed on their gables? | John H (8) | ||
| 611586 | 2007-11-15 09:37:00 | It's called a fizzlepodopledongle. | LiquidSolidity (1589) | ||
| 611587 | 2007-11-15 17:45:00 | Used as a lightning-rod, for non-electrical lightning....??? | johcar (6283) | ||
| 611588 | 2007-11-15 18:35:00 | Thanks, people. I had heard the name many years ago (about 300) but could not remember. Finial sounds the word I was looking for. Is there such as thing as non-electric lightning? You learn something new every day. That will be why the finial is made of wood, eh? Thanks for the links, John F. Very helpful. |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
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