important matters, such as flues, chimney-press and general execution of this work, we pots, smoky-chimneys, and the means of curing them, and the best mode of fitting up kitchens, Mr. Gwilt leaves wholly in the hands of Mr. Loudon. shall speak more in detail when completed. The work will consist of three series, or divisions, of which the second has now commenced. The first series comprises forty designs of existing buildings in the Hindoo, those of higher aims.* • Here, however, we would observe that a few solitary monuments, either of the art, or of the literature of a people, go but a little way towards making us acquainted with its national characterstics. What edifice, for instance, could possibly be selected as a fair representative of the Gothic style, exhibiting itself as it does in such prodigious variety, not only in different countries, and at differ These omissions, and others we might point out, show that the title of Mr. Gwilt's Egyptian, Persian, Pelasgian, Celtic, Grework is not strictly appropriate. It is not cian, Roman, early Italian, Byzantine, an Encyclopædia of British Architecture, Gothic, and Modern Architecture. These but it is a collection of treatises upon seve- are given in steel quarto engravings, and we ral important branches of the subject, by a need not remark upon their utility to Archiman of great learning and varied acquire-tects of the existing copying school, or to ments, and comprising, in one thickly printed volume, a great body of elementary and technical information, indispensable to the architectural student, and which, for the most part, he can only otherwise obtain by the purchase of numerous expensive works. Architectural pupils of the present day, have many advantages over their predecessors, for, while a generation back, architectural works were rare, and, if accompanied with designs, were published on a scale which made them accessible only to a few, and rendered travel almost the only means of obtaining any practical acquaintance with the monuments of antiquity, a library of books, embracing nearly all that is required to be known, may now be obtained at an expense scarcely too serious for the humblest student. For most of these we are indebted to the house of Longmans, but thanks are due to the publishers of University College, Messrs. Taylor and Walton, for an invaluable work of reference, connected with Classical Architecture. We allude to their Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. A volume comprising an explanation of every technical term connected with the arts and sciences, as known to the Greeks and Romans, or as relating to the political state of the people, and illustrated with innumerable diagrams describing the peculiar characteristics of Greek and Roman buildings, dress, furniture, and miscellaneous implements of peace and war. With the assistance of this work, which must always be considered a standard book, the Architectural student, though not very deeply read in the classics, may readily escape any momentary perplexity from the classical allu sions of modern authors. ent periods, but among the same people at the very same time-if only because applied to buildings very dissimilar from each other in their character and purpose? Although its loss is not very great, there is one style which we miss, viz., the Chinese: now, inferior as it is, it certainly does answer to the idea of a style, inasmuch as it exhibits a consistent system of construction; whereas, Celtic monuments, cromlechs, crosses, and unshapen stones, merely set up perpendicularly, do not belong to architecture at all, or even to mere building. They have no interest, save merely as archæological curiosities; we could, therefore, very well dispense with the two plates containing examples of that kind, and in lieu of them an additional one of the Egyptian style might very properly have been given; for now there is no instance at all of the architecture, properly so called, of that people, as exhibited in their temples and other edifices, the one selected being merely a rock-hewn façade and excavation): the Speos at Ebsamsoul, or, as more commonly written, Ipsamboul, which is by far more remarkable for its singularity and barbaric taste, than for any sort of architectural character or contrivance. The subject which is the most copiously illustrated of any, is the church of Santa Maria at Toscanella, here given as a specimen of Provençal style; and this becomes rather more, than at all less, interesting in consequence of its affording additional information to that given in Knight's "Ecclesiastical Architecture of Italy," accompanied only with a general perspective view of the interior. Interest of a similar kind attends also, in some degree, several of the other subjects; if to us they are not quite fresh, -as to many they undoubtedly will be, we obtain further particulars relative to them, both from the plates and the letter-press; and the "Bibliographical References," attached to the latter, are exceedingly serviceable, by apprising us where ampler information may be obtained. If not in every respect exactly what we could have wished it, we can still recommend the work as a very desirable, not to say indispensable one, a welcome addition to the bookshelves of the architect and amateur, and of those who have any taste, or wish to acquire any, for the art and its history. The two other series will, no doubt, be more generally attractive, for we are promised, among other sub Messrs. Didot and Co., of Paternoster Row, corresponding with the French house of the same name, are now publishing a work of equal, or perhaps to the architect of still greater importance, as embodying, and in a cheap form, the results of travel. The work consists of plans and elevations of the most remarkable edifices in the world, with Archæological and descriptive notices, edited by M. Jules Gailhabaud. Of the letter-jects, Mr. Barry's pile of the "New Houses of Par L The price of this work is extremely low, Mr. Britton, in his Architectural Antiquities, considering the number and character of the has pronounced to be unique. plates; but perhaps the most remarkable instance of cheapness, as connected with elaborate and highly finished illustrations, is es, We have every disposition to hope and believe that the principle of Church extension, of which, perhaps, modern Architects to that di e to be found in No. II. of Mr. Weale's new are greater promoters than the Bishops periodical, entitled " Quarterly Papers on (with reverence be it spoken), has resulted Architecture." We feel some hesitation in in the spiritual improvement of the people; 1 calling attention to this work, at least to the but it has certainly not effected so much for part published shortly after Christmas, for the embellishment of towns, or for the archiour honest opinion is, that the publisher, in tectural decoration of rural landscapes, as of his zeal for splendid illustrations, has out- might easily have been accomplished with stepped the bounds of discretion, and that the same means. We refer not now to the the more copies he sells of his Christmas want of originality of taste, upon which ☐ number, the more money he will lose. In enough has been said, but to the want of the part to which we refer, Mr. Weale judgment which has often been exhibited in offers the public, for seven shillings and six- the selection of suitable sites for new pence, eleven quarto engravings, and eight- churches. Perhaps the worst sites ever een of the same size brilliantly coloured; chosen for public buildings are those of besides the letter-press, which consists of Goldsmith's Hall, behind the Post Office, various original, or translated treatises of and the New Houses of Parliament in the merit. During the last forty years several lowest part of Westminster. But the sites attempts have been made to establish an chosen for many of the new churches are litArchitectural periodical; but all have failed tle superior, although, in their case at least, from the want of support: in the present the Scripture rule should have been followcase there can be no lack of buyers, but we ed, and every Church placed "like a city have our doubts whether any amount of cir- set upon a hill," which cannot be hid. culation will enable the publisher to conduct Where this rule has been followed, effects a periodical upon the liberal and enlarged have been produced at a very small cost, scale he has adopted at the commencement. which could not have been realized by an The coloured plates to which we have re- expenditure ten times as great if the building ferred exhibit the painted and stained-glass had been placed upon low ground, or surwindows of York Cathedral, and the Tem-rounded by houses. at 17 B to ple Church in London; and, excepting the We were much struck with this fact designs of the Greenwich poor-house, the when we were last in the neighbourhood of whole of the plates in both parts relate to Reigate, Surrey, and were induced to pay a Ecclesiastical buildings, or their decorations. visit to the new church at Red Hill. The Among them, perhaps the greatest novelty cost of this church, including the whole of will be found in the engravings describing the internal fittings and expenses connected the curious style of architecture, and decora- with the consecration, has not been much tion, of the primitive timber churches of more than half the sum which we have Norway. known spent in mere repairs upon some of our London churches; but, from the choice of the site, it appears upon a near view We must defer to a future opportunity a notice of other Architectural works which claim our attention; but we may here re- almost as imposing as a cathedral, while at a -mark that one of the most sumptuous distance it is one of the most pleasing objects volumes which has yet been produced in upon which the eye rests in the midst of a Scotland, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder's Me- delightful landscape. The new church morial of the Royal Progress in Scotland, stands on the summit of a gentle eminence although not especially addressed to Archi- in the open country, and is therefore visible tects, belongs to our subject as affording for some miles in every direction. some curious and exceedingly valuable This Church consists of a nave and chanillustrations of British Architecture, amongst cel only, with an octagonal tower and spire which we would call attention to the plate at the west end, supported by four lofty which gives a striking, and, we believe, the open arches, the thrust of which is counteronly faithful view of the interior of Roslin balanced by the same number of buttresses, castle, one of the most interesting struc- placed diagonally against the angles of the tures in Scotland, the architecture of which piers, and surmounted by pinnacles of liament," and we hope that some of the recent monumens of the French capital will not be overlooked. stone. The nave, lighted by five windows on each side, is covered with a roof of open timber-work, the principal compartments of L A which are filled in with tracery, and has a The volume to which we allude contains an invaluable report from Mr. Kay Shuttleworth, on the general principles which should guide the construction of school windows, which are enriched with tracery, houses; but the designs, which are all by and have also elaborately carved transoms. one architect, are all in one style, and have Throughout the building, the architect has led to a monotonous uniformity in parish adopted, for the most part, the forms which school erections. Now here was an opporbegan to prevail very early in the fifteenth tunity of suggesting and realizing images of century; and in the ceiling of this portion varied beauty in the simpler styles of archiof it especially, a great degree of elegance tecture, which alone would have gone far and richness has been obtained by the intro- to improve the national taste. We know duction of the beautiful fan groining, so fre- not why every architect in the kingdom quently met with in the ecclesiastical struc- should not have been invited to send in detures of that period. signs. Few would have declined doing so, The church is in all respects most sub- and a volume of the best of these designs stantially built. White Suffolk bricks have placed in every school library, and perhaps been used for facing the exterior, and Caen occasionally used as drawing copies by the stone for the windows, copings, pinnacles, children, would have led, a multitude of and dressings. minds to compare, and reflect, and take an The octagonal tower and spire, at the interest in the subject, that will now perwest end, form, of course, the principal fea- haps never be induced to pay it the slightture of the design, and are remarkable for est attention. As it is, the Committee of simplicity and lightness. We think, how- Privy Council has fixed for some time the ever, the architect, Mr. J. I. Knowles, notion in the public mind, that an orthodox would have improved the effect had he con- charity or even infant school must be Elizatinued the lines of the whole of the piers bethan; and if the school were not erected upon which the tower rests to the ground, in this style, it would with many persons go instead of allowing two of them, the piers at far to prove, that the Bible was not taught the back, to be lost in the body of the there, or that its patrons belonged to some church. The tower now scarcely seems obnoxious class of dissent. We do not (to use a familiar expression) to stand upon think highly of any of the designs supplied all-fours, and almost reminds one of a stool by Mr. Sampson Kempthorpe, and few that with but two legs placed for support against we have seen by other Architects as adapted a wall. This defect might easily have for simple structures, appear to us wholly been remedied, and the structure have gain- satisfactory; but one of the most pleasing, in ed thereby an appearance of greater so lidity.* the style patronized by the Committee of Privy Council, is that of the Brompton schools, by Mr. George Godwin, favourably From the parish church it is a natural transition to the parish school; and having known to the public by his letters to the already remarked upon the importance of at- Society of Antiquaries, on the Masonic tempting to nationalize a taste for architec- marks found on the stones of various buildture in this country through the medium of ings erected during the Middle Ages. popular instruction, we may here express In what is called "Elizabethan Architecour regret, that an opportunity has been lost ture," it is usual to break the lines of the for making a considerable step towards this roof by a false face or screen, showing recobject in the published designs for school- tangular corners, or sometimes still more unhouses, recommended by the Committee of natural curves, to both of which, though Council for Education.† generally approved, we object. The introduction of screens, however ornamental they may be in themselves, when not required for some really useful object, as in parapet walls, are in bad taste, as suggesting the ex * The ground on which it is erected on Red Hill was the gift of the Right Honourable the Earl Somers; the font was presented by the Countess Somers; the Communion plate by Mrs. Price of istence of some defect in the construction Woodhatch, and the bell by Mrs. and Miss Martin which requires to be hidden: an unpleasant of Reigate. About 5800l. will be required to defray the ex- association of ideas. When roofs are visible 1000l. has been given by the Right Honourable the Barrington's Manual for Students of British Archi- + We may recommend for the use of schools, Dr. bethan. 1 ال from the street, there should be nothing in pears insignificant, compared with the object their outline to conceal; and when the con- attained. The instances are few, of such an struction is sound, there is no necessity for inconsiderable expenditure on buildings conconcealment, beyond that which the copyist taining the same extent of accommodation, imposes upon himself. and of a highly ornamental character. The architecture of the period of Eliza- The general effect of this design is so exbeth had strictly no style of its own. tremely satisfactory and creditable to the "Elizabethan architecture" was an imper-architect, that we are not at all disposed to fect attempt to adapt to modern buildings enter into a critical examination of its dethe classic forms of antiquity, which were fects. We would merely remark, as an ob1 then beginning to be studied, but which led | jectionable feature, that the battlements over tl to nothing more than a heterogeneous blend- the oriel windows are heavy, and not aping of opposite styles, with little regard to propriate. We know there are plenty of perfect harmony of form. But by Eliza- precedents for them, but this does not justify bethan forms are generally understood, their use. They originally belonged to the those which began to prevail in the century parapet walls of baronial castles, and formed preceding the Reformation and the dissolu- a suitable breastwork for archers attacked tion of the monasteries by Henry the VIII., from without, and defending themselves -forms belonging to what correctly should within. This is not an association we be called the early Tudor style, or Perpen-would connect with the peaceful objects of dicular Pointed Gothic. a Collegiate Institution. When battlements A favourable example of a modern appli- are introduced in domestic architecture, they ☐ cation of the Tudor style is exhibited in the should at least be rendered somewhat lighter New Cheltenham Proprietary College, in appearance than those of an ancient fortinerected by Mr. J. Wilson, one of the most fication; and without departing from the promising of our provincial architects. We perpendicular style of Gothic, the same subjoin the following description of the college from the " Cheltenham Looker-on." " In the square forming the centre of the edifice the principal entrance is placed, consisting of a large and lofty door-way, communicating with the vestibule and staircase; the latter leads to the Library and Principal's room, two handsome apartments, lighted by finely-proportioned oriel windows. On the right is a spacious hall, intended to forms may be easily varied. We will now travel from Cheltenham to London, and direct the reader's attention to a building recently erected near the ancient site of another monastery of the White Friars, which once stood between the river and Fleet Street. But the days of White Friars and Black Friars have passed away. Modern fraternities have been associated for be used as the principal school-room; this is different objects, and are called by new lighted from the clerestory by a range of square- names; as Leaguers and Anti-Leaguers, headed windows, ornamented with mullions and missionaries of free trade, and Agricultural tracery; but the most striking object is the large protectionists. In the place of an ancient and handsome bay window at the south-end, monastic institution, we see before us the which, from its proportions and formation-twenty offices of the Anti-Corn-Law-League. feet wide, by thirty feet high, is well calculated to throw a flood of light over the whole of the ex- We notice this building as it presents tensive apartment. Along the ground-floor in some novelty in its construction, and as aimfront, a range of building projects from the main ing at a higher style of architectural decorawall, something after the fashion of the aisles in tion than it has hitherto been customary to our old churches; this range is divided into a se- introduce in the elevations of houses of buries of separate apartments. The architectural siness. The ornamental character of the arrangements of the left wing correspond with front speaks for itself; but the expense of those of the right. The entire length of the frontage is two hundred and forty feet. such an elaborate design on a frontage of enthe ground sixty fect, does not adapt it for general imiplan may be thus described: in the centre, immediately behind the tower, is the lecture-room, tation, although we would fain see every measuring thirty-two feet by forty, and exceeding- similar site at the corners of streets as well ly lofty; this opens upon the large school-room occupied. The expense might have been before described; the small rooms on the ground- reduced had the corner, instead of being floor front open into the school-room and other curved, as in this instance, been cut off with parts of the interior. The entire cost of the building, including the additions to the original contract, will slightly exceed £7000, a marvellous small sum, when the size and style of the building are considered." We understand the cost of the building has been £8000, but the amount really ap a straight line, as in the case of the Sun Insurance Office near the Bank, and of nearly all modern buildings forming the corners of streets in Paris. Not only is all square work much cheaper than curved, but when a corner exhibits a straight line it may be ornamented to any extent without the neces 122 Practical Considerations for the Promotion of British Architecture. sity arising for repeating, on either side, the same decorations to make the whole in keeping. The roof of this building is flat, like a terrace, paved with Seyssel Asphalte; a novel application of this material in London, but not on the Continent. The whole building is fire-proof; a stone stair-case ascending from the basement to the attic floor, and the flooring-boards of each story resting upon brick arches, supported by iron girders. This mode of construction led to the adop tion of an Asphalte roof: for the brick arches forming the ceilings being laid in cement, it seemed as if no roof were wanting to the uppermost story, beyond an outside coating of Asphalte, and that the plumber's work, in ridges and gutters, might be saved. Practically, however, it was found that a slate roof would have cost less. The concrete required to fill up the spandrils of the arches, weighed with the Asphalte, so many tons, that it was deemed necessary to carry up the walls eighteen inches thick to the parapet, besides strengthening them with chain-bond: however, greater solidity was thus gained, so that the building stands as firm as a rock, and is likely to outlast many generatiors of the slight and inferior structures by which it is at present surrounded. We have only space to notice in conclusion the Hall of Commerce, recently erected in Threadneedle Street, by Mr. Moxhay. The external façade of this noble edifice affords conclusive evidence, that the author* of the design is not only a man of taste, but one possessing greater power of original conception than can be generally traced in the works of modern Architects, even among those enjoying the highest reputation. Mr. Moxhay may at least lay claim to a higher merit than that of correct copying. The design of his Threadneedle Street front corresponds with that of no other building with which we are acquainted, and yet, is almost unrivalled for simple beauty -and even grandeur. The effect is given chiefly by sculpture. The principal feature is an elaborate bas-relief, in which the figures introduced have been sculptured upon an unusually large scale, extending nearly the whole length of the front. Beneath, is only a door of lofty dimensions, with a window on each side; and yet the proportions and groupings are such, as to arrest the instant attention of passengers, and * We understand that the credit of the general design is due to Mr. Moxhay senior, who is not an architect; the working details were executed under the superintendence of his son, Mr. C. E. Moxhay. March, excite universal admiration. The interior is thus described in the Spectator : "It is planned with skill and judgment, and most beautifully decorated. The ground-floor is divided lofty and spacious saloons noble proportions, and well-lighted: that on the left is square, with a semicircular recess; the cornice supported by pilasters with Corinthian capitals, and the ceiling ornamented with a chaste and elegant coving, formed of the lotus-leaf and flower: that on the right is a most superb apartment, and in point of proportion and enrichment, one of the finest rooms in the Metropolis. Its dimensions are one hundred and thirty feet long, forty-four feet wide, and fifty feet high; three square apertures in the ceiling, glazed with sheets of plate glass, in a novel manner, let in a flood of light and show the sky above. At one end is a semicircular recess, which, as well as the square recess at each side, is ornamented by two fluted columns with Corinthian capitals: these columns and pilasters support the entablature, which is ornamented by a frieze of the most beautiful character: consisting of a rich and fanciful scroll of fruits and flowers, designed with picturesque freedom, and executed in very high relief, equalling, in lightness and projection, the best wood-carving. From a bold cornice springs the coving of the ceiling, which is light and handsome, in accordance with the rest of the decorations. The coup d'œil is singularly elegant: the just proportions of the room prevent it at first sight from appearing so large as it really is; but its airiness and daylight brightness produce that agreeable sense of space and amplitude which is so seldom experienced in modern apartments even of great pretensions. Much of this is owing to the excellent plan of lighting from the roof by means of sky-lights, side-panes inclining inward towards the top." R Mr. Moxhay is a man not less remarkable for Architectural taste than public spirit. The whole of this magnificent structure has to been thrown open to the public, at a scale of charges scarcely higher than the rate of admission to the humblest Mechanics Institute, and the arrangements placed under the superintendence of a Board of Merchants and Bankers, at the head of which is Sir George Larpent. The public have not been wanting in a due appreciation of the advantages afforded them, and we should be glad to have been enabled to add, that public bodies had as ably seconded Mr. Moxhay's exertions for city improvement; but we cannot but notice a striking instance to the contrary. The hall of one of the richest companies in the city, the Merchant Tailors' Company, -is nearly opposite the Hall of Commerce;* and a narrow strip of ground, at The Hall of Commerce has been erected to provide a central point of meeting in the capital of the commercial world, for the merchants, bankers, |