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Westminster Abbey Engineering: From Buttresses to Weston Tower
Understand Westminster Abbey’s structure—rib vaults and buttresses—and how the Weston Tower opens the triforium to visitors today.
12/2/2025
16 min read
Gothic is an engineering idea wearing beauty as camouflage.
Structural Kit
- Pointed arches distribute load efficiently.
- Rib vaults channel forces to clustered piers.
- External buttresses counter thrust discreetly.
The Weston Tower
- A contemporary glass‑and‑stone spiral to upper galleries.
- Harmonizes with historic fabric while clarifying circulation.
Bottom Line
Form follows physics—and then becomes poetry.
About the Author
Architecture & Craft Editor
I built this to help you enjoy Westminster Abbey calmly—smarter timing, kinder routes, and context that makes chapels and stories sing.
Tags
Gothic engineering
buttresses
Hawksmoor towers
Weston Tower
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