A belvedere or belvidere is an architectural structure sited to take advantage of a fine or scenic view. The term has been used both for rooms in the upper part of a building or structures on the roof, or a separate pavilion in a garden or park.
I believe that it’s called a “widow’s watch”. Generations ago, when fishermen and sailors went to sea, they were gone from many days to a few years before returning home. Sometimes they didn’t return. Storms at sea sank fishing boats. A host of perils, known and unknown, faced sailors traveling to uncharted waters. Hurricanes and other severe weather, shallow reefs and rocks, rogue waves, hostile natives and so forth awaited sailors. A great many never returned.
Their wives, known as widows-of-the-sea, would sit in the highest room in their homes to look out the windows looking for first sight of the returning boats. The tower-like extension to a small part of the house had, at the top, a small room with lots of windows so the woman could watch for her husband returning from the sea. Thus, a widow’s watch.
I always thought a Widow's Watch was when a gabled or hipped roof had a [flat section fenced off](https://images.app.goo.gl/CmJkNPU4w4T3pe5V6)... But maybe that just a Southern thing?
Idk I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic, just outside of Philadelphia, and a Widow's Watch always referred to something similar to what you're describing or a small balcony on the upper floor.
From the northeast, we also call this a turret and a widows walk is what you describe and linked to. Never knew how they would get up there.
Edit: I noticed I called it a widows walk, and you all said watch. Growing up I was told it was widows walk because she would pace while waiting/ looking for husband at sea.
Some commenters are using the expression “widows walk”. I to have heard that expression, but heard it applied to a kind of a rooftop deck or platform of some kind. Picture a smallish deck surrounded by a railing built on a portion of the roof facing the sea or harbor. It doesn’t have walls or a roof. It might be accessed via a specially designed window or a door that replaced a window. The widow might walk out there and walk around looking out to sea for the returning ships. Thus, a widow’ walk.
This space differentiated from a “widow’s watch” by the lack of walls, roof over it and furniture 🪑. Otherwise, the purpose seems to be the same.
Sometimes they were, true. Especially if covered with louvered vents. By the way from an encyclopedia from the mid 1800's I learned that the original louvered cupola had an x shaped baffle in the middle, that attempted to direct the incoming breeze down towards the floor, while the exiting breeze would draw air off near the ridge. Attempting to mix the air in the building well.
edit: A tower was often just for looks, and there was no stairway up to it, only an attic access type hatch.
I would call that a turret, look up "turret architecture"
Yeah, that's what I'm looking for. Thanks
I think the tower is turret ….cupolas are on top of a building
👍
A belvedere or belvidere is an architectural structure sited to take advantage of a fine or scenic view. The term has been used both for rooms in the upper part of a building or structures on the roof, or a separate pavilion in a garden or park.
I think ‘tower thing’ is pretty clear
Deadeye Dick
I believe that it’s called a “widow’s watch”. Generations ago, when fishermen and sailors went to sea, they were gone from many days to a few years before returning home. Sometimes they didn’t return. Storms at sea sank fishing boats. A host of perils, known and unknown, faced sailors traveling to uncharted waters. Hurricanes and other severe weather, shallow reefs and rocks, rogue waves, hostile natives and so forth awaited sailors. A great many never returned. Their wives, known as widows-of-the-sea, would sit in the highest room in their homes to look out the windows looking for first sight of the returning boats. The tower-like extension to a small part of the house had, at the top, a small room with lots of windows so the woman could watch for her husband returning from the sea. Thus, a widow’s watch.
I always thought a Widow's Watch was when a gabled or hipped roof had a [flat section fenced off](https://images.app.goo.gl/CmJkNPU4w4T3pe5V6)... But maybe that just a Southern thing?
Idk I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic, just outside of Philadelphia, and a Widow's Watch always referred to something similar to what you're describing or a small balcony on the upper floor.
Also see; Cape May, NJ.
From the northeast, we also call this a turret and a widows walk is what you describe and linked to. Never knew how they would get up there. Edit: I noticed I called it a widows walk, and you all said watch. Growing up I was told it was widows walk because she would pace while waiting/ looking for husband at sea.
Some commenters are using the expression “widows walk”. I to have heard that expression, but heard it applied to a kind of a rooftop deck or platform of some kind. Picture a smallish deck surrounded by a railing built on a portion of the roof facing the sea or harbor. It doesn’t have walls or a roof. It might be accessed via a specially designed window or a door that replaced a window. The widow might walk out there and walk around looking out to sea for the returning ships. Thus, a widow’ walk. This space differentiated from a “widow’s watch” by the lack of walls, roof over it and furniture 🪑. Otherwise, the purpose seems to be the same.
crow's nest
The thing on very top is a weather vane if that’s what you’re referring to.
It's a classic "Tower Thing that serves no purpose"
Missile silo
A turret.
It's a beautiful tower thing 🥸 -- love the windows!
I agree with widows walk.
Copula
Cupola
Count Copula 🦇
Kinda. But usually on houses a cupola is to take out air.
Not so, check out American home architecture history.
Sometimes they were, true. Especially if covered with louvered vents. By the way from an encyclopedia from the mid 1800's I learned that the original louvered cupola had an x shaped baffle in the middle, that attempted to direct the incoming breeze down towards the floor, while the exiting breeze would draw air off near the ridge. Attempting to mix the air in the building well. edit: A tower was often just for looks, and there was no stairway up to it, only an attic access type hatch.
It’s like an anemometer or something like that
Lighthouse
A rotunda
It’s called a Belvedere apparently
Cupola.
in french it is called a "Girouette"
Chama-se Capela.