Poteaux-sur-sol ("posts on a sill" – sol is also spelled sole and solle) is a style of timber framing in which relatively closely spaced posts rest on a timber

sill Sill may refer to: * Sill (dock), a weir at the low water mark retaining water within a dock * Sill (geology), a subhorizontal sheet intrusion of molten or solidified magma * Sill (geostatistics) * Sill (river), a river in Austria * Sill plate, a ...

. Poteaux-en-terre and pieux-en-terre are similar, but the closely spaced posts extend into the ground rather than resting on a sill on a foundation, and therefore are a type of post in ground construction. Poteaux-sur-sol is similar to the framing style known in the United Kingdom as close studding. Poteaux-sur-sol has also, confusingly, been used for other types of timber framing which have a sill timber such as post-and-plank, but this is considered incorrect by some scholars. Poteaux-sur-sol is a part of American historic carpentry but is known by its French name in North America, as it was used by

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and

French-Canadian French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fr ...

people in the region historically known as New France. Besides its appearance in French colonial architecture, it was also used in the 19th century by

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

peasants living on the open steppes, or anywhere there was a timber shortage. Lehr, John C., "Ukrainians in Western Canada", in ''To Build in a New Land'' (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992) pp 309-330.

United States

In the present-day United States, houses in this style can be found in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri;

Prairie du Rocher, Illinois Prairie du Rocher ("The Rock Prairie" in French) is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. Founded in the French colonial period in the American Midwest, the community is located near bluffs that flank the east side of the Miss ...

, and former French settlements in Louisiana—all former parts of New France (''La Louisiane''). Most are listed on the National Register of Historic Places;

Maison Bolduc The Louis Bolduc House, also known as Maison Bolduc, is a historic house museum at 123 South Main Street in Ste. Geneviève, Missouri. It is an example of '' poteaux sur solle'' ("posts-on-sill") construction, and is located in the first Europe ...

is a National Historic Landmark.

Canada

Gallery

Image:La_Maison_de_Guibourd-Valle--1808.jpg,

Jacques Guibourd Historic House The Guibourd House, also known as La Maison de Guibourd, is an example of ''poteaux-sur-solle'' (vertical post on sill or foundation) sealed with '' bouzillage'' (usually a mixture of clay and grass) construction. The structure was built around 1 ...

, c1806. Ste. Genevieve, MO An example of ''poteaux-sur-sol'' construction. Image:A Front View of the Bolduc House in Ste Genevieve MO.jpg, Front view of

Louis Bolduc House The Louis Bolduc House, also known as Maison Bolduc, is a historic house museum at 123 South Main Street in Ste. Geneviève, Missouri. It is an example of '' poteaux sur solle'' ("posts-on-sill") construction, and is located in the first Europe ...

, Ste. Genevieve. Shows ''poteaux-sur-sol'' construction and '' bousillage'' infill. Image:Poteaux-sur-Solle Model.jpg, A model of the

in Ste. Genevieve, showing ''poteaux-sur-sol'' construction. Image:Durand Cabin- poteaux-sur-solle & pierrotage.jpg, The Durand Cabin in Ste. Genevieve is an example of ''poteaux-sur-sol'' construction. File:Creole House in Prairie du Rocher.jpg,

Creole House The Creole House is a historic residence in the village of Prairie du Rocher, an old French settlement in present-day Randolph County, Illinois, United States. Built at the end of the eighteenth century and later expanded, the Creole House is ...

Prairie du Rocher Prairie du Rocher ("The Rock Prairie" in French) is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. Founded in the French colonial period in the American Midwest, the community is located near bluffs that flank the east side of the Miss ...

, Illinois, built 1800, expanded with stud-based construction and sided in 1858.

References

{{commonscat, Poteaux-sur-sol construction Timber framing Colonial architecture in the United States French colonial architecture Architecture in Ukraine New France French-Canadian culture in the United States French-American culture in Missouri Missouri culture

United States

Canada

Gallery

See also

References