Looking at Buildings

Glossary

Pins or pinning: (Scots): Lines of tiny stones used decoratively in the mortar joints.
Pis: Walling material of clay mixed with straw. Also called cob.
Piscina: In a church or chapel, a basin for washing Mass vessels, provided with a drain, usually set in or against the wall to the south of an altar.
Pitchback water wheel: One with water fed on to the wheel on the top but falling backwards. Compare breastshot, overshot and undershot.
Pitched masonry: Laid on the diagonal, often alternately with opposing courses (pitched and counterpitched, also called herringbone).
Pit prison: (Scots): Sunk chamber with access from above through a hatch.
Place bricks: The poorer kind of bricks, used on internal or concealed construction. Compare stock bricks.
Platband: Flat plain horizontal course or moulding between storeys.
Plate: Longitudinal member of a timber-framed building, set square to the ground.
Plate girder: A girder of I-section, made from iron or steel plates.