Diagonal wall extenstions from (probably) bombed out row of terraces.

[HandyManDan99]

Hi. Does anyone know what these sloped walls are called and their purpose?

These houses are in a part of Bristol that was bombed in WW2 so there were probably more terraced houses on this row and they were destroyed. You can see the old chimney breasts that were presumbly inside the house that was destroyed.

But I'm curious at the whether these are structurally necessary (maybe because of the bookend effect) or they were just left because it was easier than rebuilding the corners of the houses. It's weird to me that they are two different heights.

I have a customer that would like the remove the smaller one if possible. (I wouldn't do it myself. And we'd get a strucural engineer to make sure it's fine etc.)

PS - I'm also a layman. But a curious one!

 

[^woody^]

Buttressess.

As that side wall was a party wall, not an external wall, it would not normally be tied to the front and rear walls like an external wall would have been. These butresses are intended to prevent the side wall moving out at the corners. Heights may be determined by the openings on the front and rear, or some other random factor.

 

[catlad]

As per Woody, it wouldn't be wise to remove them.

 

[HandyManDan99]

Thanks guys. Most helpful!

 

[cdbe]

Could possibly be removed or certainly reduced in width/replaced with a wind post as determined by an SE - something like an "L" of SHS concreted onto the original foundation.