Pole marquee
Encyclopedia
A pole marquee or pole tent is a variety of large tent
often used to shelter summer events such as shows, festivals, and weddings. They are particularly associated with typical English
country garden weddings.
The simple design has changed little in hundreds of years. A pole marquee consists of a roof canopy supported by tall center poles ("king poles") tensioned using side lines connected to ground pins (or stakes) and smaller supporting poles ("side poles"). The king poles support the bulk of the weight, while the side poles give the fabric shape.
Originally, they were manufactured from cotton canvas covers, wooden poles, and hessian rope but they have been largely replaced with more modern materials. In the United Kingdom
, hire companies offer "American-style" pole tents with PVC
covers, aluminium poles, and nylon ropes. The introduction of modern fabrics extends the shelf life of the marquees, as they are far more easily maintained. Canvas marquees are still available. Canvas is more breathable, allowing for lower temperatures and humidity inside the marquee; such a marquee is more comfortable in hot summer weather while remaining watertight in the event of rain.
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
often used to shelter summer events such as shows, festivals, and weddings. They are particularly associated with typical English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
country garden weddings.
The simple design has changed little in hundreds of years. A pole marquee consists of a roof canopy supported by tall center poles ("king poles") tensioned using side lines connected to ground pins (or stakes) and smaller supporting poles ("side poles"). The king poles support the bulk of the weight, while the side poles give the fabric shape.
Originally, they were manufactured from cotton canvas covers, wooden poles, and hessian rope but they have been largely replaced with more modern materials. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, hire companies offer "American-style" pole tents with PVC
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a plastic.PVC may also refer to:*Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor*Peripheral venous catheter, a small, flexible tube placed into a peripheral vein in order to administer medication or fluids...
covers, aluminium poles, and nylon ropes. The introduction of modern fabrics extends the shelf life of the marquees, as they are far more easily maintained. Canvas marquees are still available. Canvas is more breathable, allowing for lower temperatures and humidity inside the marquee; such a marquee is more comfortable in hot summer weather while remaining watertight in the event of rain.