Load bearing or not?

[RandomGrinch]

google Trussed partitions. They can be used to take some of the loads from the floor under them.

Thank you, that's interesting.
And I can see how it is completely relevant for the OP.

...although I'm still wondering about my wall. Originally there was a supporting wall underneath - it may be lucky that it is a trussed partition, because the lower wall was removed a long time ago!

...but thinking about it, it may be partly self-supporting, as it sits on the floor boards midway between two sets of joists...

 

[elrick88]

Much appreciated chaps. Will defo be leaving it in situ and will work around it. Blood regs, I'll fit something in.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I'm not saying it isn't load bearing, but is there a possibility that it's just the way Victorians did things?

I've hacked enough Victorian buildings to say probably not just the way they did things. Doing those joints took more time and cost more money (for materials) that straightforward studwork, so I'd say they were put in to stiffen the wall (or inhibit racking) or to transfer any loading to another point on the floor - something you see in walls above barrel vault ceilings where they want as much load as possible carried by/transmitted into the girders between the masonry arches. Also, most studs are/were 2in or so thick. What cross section are the OPs? They look a bit chunkier than that to me, a possible indication of load bearing

 

[elrick88]

2*3 timbers at 14" centres.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

2*3 timbers at 14" centres.

3 x 2s would normally be on something like 16in or 24in centres, so that only adds to my suspicion that the wall was meant to carry some load. With load bearing studs you sometimes get other "features" such as extra thick sole plates and headers, studs mortise and tenoned into the sole plate/header or sometimes halving jointed, etc

 

[elrick88]

3 x 2s would normally be on something like 16in or 24in centres, so that only adds to my suspicion that the wall was meant to carry some load. With load bearing studs you sometimes get other "features" such as extra thick sole plates and headers, studs mortise and tenoned into the sole plate/header or sometimes halving jointed, etc

Correct on all accounts JobAndKnock.

 

[elrick88]

A bit different but enjoy all the light coming in.
Will eventually get round to adding a rope banister... I think.

Thanks for the advice as always!

 

[jeds]

Looks ok. My advice is put some cross rails/handrail around. Especially if you have any smaller humans visiting.