A coil arrangement or a method of making a coil comprises elements 16 extending around a coil 14 in a direction of axial force BF where the elements 16 are located at certain circumferential positions on a coil 14. The coil 14 arrangement is suitable for retaining a pair of outer coils 14 in a solenoidal magnet in position against axial forces BF urging the outer coils 14 away from one another. Corresponding strap elements 16 extend around each of the coils 14 and are linked by a tensile member 18 to counteract axial forces BE Support frames 20, slip plane material surfaces, filler material and flexible and adjustable tensile link members 18, may be used. The method of making a coil 14 includes providing a journal with a cavity into which a coil is wound. The walls of the journal include recesses into which strap elements 16 are located such that they traverse the winding cavity and have internal surfaces which correspond to three surface regions of the coil 14. The coil 14 and strap elements 16 are then located in a mould and bonded together by impregnating them with a hardening material which is allowed to harden before being removed from the mould.