Lintels in Essex

Steel Lintels

Not many construction projects would get very far without lintels. Where there is a void or opening, there needs to be something above to support the weight of the other construction materials. Lintels are play that part, but what exactly are they and what are they generally manufactured from?

What are steel lintels?

Steel lintels are generally made from pre-galvanised steel which is cut and either roll-formed or pressed into the desired shape. They may differ in length, width and depth, but they will still serve the same purpose. Steel does have an advantage over concrete in that the lintels are usually lighter and are easier to handle on site. Anyone who has ever tried to lift or work with a concrete lintel will appreciate just how light they are by comparison.

The lintel should not be visible above the opening, as a seamless appearance is always desired. Steel is also extremely versatile in that it can be custom made according to the specific building requirement. So they are perfect for builds where there will be arches, areas that have openings with angles or corners and in the construction of bay windows.

Lintels also have an important role when it comes to reducing heat loss from a building or where there is damp and condensation present. Lintels achieve this function from their original design and construction. The lintel is manufactured to avoid any thermal bridging, this is where there is a direct connection between the inside and the outside, through elements that are more thermally conductive than the building materials used throughout the rest of the building. This may include a cavity within the wall above the lintel, and the insertion of insulation.

Roman Essex

There is certainly plenty of Roman history in and around Essex. Many artefacts have been discovered in the county, such as coins and arrow heads.

The Roman invasion of AD 43 began with a landing on the south coast, most likely in the Richborough area of Kent. After some initial successes against the Britons, they paused to await reinforcements, and the arrival of the Emperor Claudius. The combined army then proceeded to the capital of the Catevellauni-Trinovantes at Colchester, and suceeded in taking it.

Claudius: Imperator of Essex

The Emporor Claudius held a review of his invasion force on Lexden Heath where the army formally proclaimed him Imperator. The invasion force that assembled before him included four legions, mounted auxiliaries and an elephant corps, in total, a force of around 30,000 Roman soldiers. At Colchester in Essex, the kings of eleven British tribes surrendered to Claudius.

The Essex town of Colchester became a Roman Colonia, with the official name Colonia Claudia Victricensis. It was initially the most important city in Roman Britain and in it they established a temple to the God-Emperor Claudius. This was the largest building of its kind in Roman Britain.

The establishment of the Colonia is thought to have involved extensive appropriation of land from the local Essex people, this and other grievances led to the Trinovantes joining their northern neighbours, the Iceni, in the Boudiccan revolt. The rebels entered the city, and after a Roman last stand at the temple of Claudius, methodically destroyed it, killing many thousands. A significant Roman force attempting to relieve Colchester was destroyed in a fierce battle, known as the Massacre of the Ninth Legion.

The Essex legend of Old King Cole

The late Roman period, and the period shortly after, was the setting for the King Cole legends based around the Essex town of Colchester. One version of the legend concerns Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. The legend makes her the daughter of Coel, Duke of the Britons King Cole, and in it she gives birth to Constantine in Colchester. The legend is at variance with historic facts as they are now known, but it is likely that Constantine, and his father, spent time in Colchester Essex during their years in Britain.