What is the purpose of this.

[westward10]

Was visiting the priory at Canons Ashby when I see several of these dotted around the building. A date at the top indicates 1982 so not part of the original building fabric. I know what they are but anyone else. The top has been cut off but it just ends at a bowl shaped affair.

 

[westward10]

Could be that they are earthed as the present a risk of lightning hitting them rather than being installed specifically for that reason, or two birds with one stone.

Possible as I have seen downpipes linked to the protection system but there seemed to be no other downward sections and the electrode at the bottom indicates they are integral to the system. Maybe the case there is a grid on the roof and the downpipes were an inconspicuous way to ground it.

 

[westward10]

I wasn't sure where Canons Ashby was so I set the sat nav, 25 odd minutes.
"Why are you going this way"
"Following sat nav"
"I pass it every time I go to my sisters I know the way", sat nav turned off
45 minutes we get there, I say nothing??

 

[Rockingit]

I wasn't sure where Canons Ashby was so I set the sat nav, 25 odd minutes.
"Why are you going this way"
"Following sat nav"
"I pass it every time I go to my sisters I know the way", sat nav turned off
45 minutes we get there, I say nothing??

Classic.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Looking at pictures of the Gable end of the building there is it would seem a box gutter behind the parapet and as usual in buildings of that age the gutter would discharge through the parapet either by a Gargoyle to avoid the water cascading down the face of the building or with the addition of a hopper and down pipe, these may be added later to control the water better, it was also common for a centre courtyard to have water discharge straight into the yard and have a rainwater collection tank underneath it to provide the buildings water requirements, normally for cooking and horse's, the main drink being a Mead of some kind.