Part 4

What if he has put at our service in the Precursor Number and in this review the choice of those pleasing illustrations that adorn his works? We point to these as additional proofs of his title to the respect and esteem of our readers. He was influenced, we know full well, by that same generous purpose which has sustained him through life, which has made him to triumph over physical difficulties and to stand now a living, and to be a memorable instance of the supremacy of mental over material power. He will pardon us, if in the honest excess of our gratitude on personal grounds, but much more in our humble capacity as of the “craft” for whom he has so well laboured—a gratitude which took possession of our minds through the reading of his works long before we knew him—he will pardon us, if, unrestrained by a sense of the little pain we may cause him on the one hand, we thus tender to him that which we are assured, will on the other be acceptable—our honest and undisguised, but feeble expression of grateful esteem.

As we profess to teach not so much by criticisms, which after all can have but little weight, or at any rate little more than the opinion of an individual, and when delivered with an air of authority that the test of inquiry would dissipate, only make criticism ridiculous, and confirms error; as we teach not so much by criticisms as by joining in the commendations of generally acknowledged good; and as every one who has travelled on the North Midland Railway has acknowledged, that the station-buildings on that line have more of the picturesque and attractive than any thing of the kind on our other railways, we have a pleasure in transferring from Mr. Loudon’s Supplement the accompanying elevation of “a cottage in the style of the Ambergate Railway Station,” by Mr. Francis Thompson, who was also the architect of that station, and it will readily be admitted that there is a meritoriousness which entitles this design to the regard which that gentleman’s other works have obtained.

The next selection which we make is a design, by Mr. E. B. Lamb, of “the Keeper’s Lodge at Bluberhouses,” which, it appears, was built, with some slight variations, for Sir F. R. Russell, Bart., on his estate of Thirkleby Park, Thirsk, Yorkshire.

In Mr. Loudon’s text there are some judicious remarks on the elevations; the construction is also described, and plans likewise given, as indeed with all the designs, both of this supplement and its parent or precursor volume. The supplement alone contains nearly 300 engravings.

The next design is also by Mr. Lamb, and is one out of a number of “small villas in the Gothic style,” originally intended to be built near Gravesend. We have not space to transfer Mr. Loudon’s critique, and are precluded by the rule we have laid down from any observations of our own.

In a future number it is our intention to return to this subject, and, in connection with the question of the improvement of labourers’ and workmen’s dwelling houses, several plans for which are now before us, we shall have the assistance of Mr. Loudon’s matured lucubrations, as given in the Encyclopædia and the Supplement.

Architectural College.

An Architectural College was founded in London, on Advent Eve, 1842, for the cultivation of the various branches of the art, under the denomination of the “_Free-Masons of the Church, for the Recovery, Maintenance, and Furtherance of the True Principles and Practice of Architecture_.”

It appears that the objects contemplated in the foundation of this Institution are the rediscovery of the ancient principles of architecture; the sanction of good principles of building, and the condemnation of bad ones; the exercise of scientific and experienced judgment in the choice and use of the most proper materials; the infusion, maintenance, and advancement of science throughout architecture; and, eventually, by developing the powers of the College upon a just and beneficial footing, to reform the whole practice of architecture, to raise it from its present vituperated condition, and to bring around it the same unquestioned honour which is at present enjoyed by almost every other profession.

It is proposed, by having numerous professors, contributors, and co-labourers, to acquire a great body of practical information; and that, whenever any knowledge of value shall be obtained by the College, the same shall be immediately communicated to each of its members, without waiting for the production of a whole volume, and before the subject-matter shall have lost any of its professional interest.

By the appointment of a “_Professor of Architectural Dynamics_,” the gravitation of materials will be taught to the student in practical architecture: thence in all designs the present mystery, in which the quantity of materials merely absolutely requisite to cause a building to hold firmly together, may be ended; architectural designs may in future be made on certain principles of stability, and therefore on principles of natural and philosophical taste; and through the economy of discharging from buildings all lumber, as is the case with all living members of the creation, the architect will be enabled to restore to his work, frequently without extra expense, the carving and other exquisite beauties for which ancient architecture has in every age been celebrated.

By the appointment of a “_Professor of Architectural Jurisprudence_,” it is judged that the practical profession of architecture will be rendered more sure, through the acquirement of fixed and certain rules relative to contracts, rights of property, dilapidations, and other legal matters.

By having a “_Professor of Architectural Chemistry_,” it is confidently expected that a more certain method will be assured to the practitioner in the choice of proper and durable materials.

By the appointment of the various other professors and officers, it is judged that the very best information will be obtained upon all material matters connected with the science and the practice of architecture, and that a degree of perfection will be thus induced, and will thus mix itself with the practice and execution of the art in a manner which is not now very often the case.

As a first labour of the College, it is proposed that the present unsatisfactory division and nomenclature of pointed architecture shall be remedied, and that all the publications of the society upon that subject shall be issued according to such classification and nomenclature. Not indeed that the perfecting of so desirable a project can be expected at once; but such a nomenclature can be laid down as shall immediately distinguish the different members of the art, which are as numerous as those of heraldry; and these can be superseded by more primitive or more simple and energetic terms, as they shall be recovered from ancient contracts and other documents, or shall be invented by more judicious and mature consideration. But to prevent doubt or future mistake, it is proposed that a cut of each intended object shall be executed, and that a reference shall be made to where exemplars of it are to be found, and also to its chronology.

Further, it is proposed to render this College still more useful, by joining with it a charitable foundation, for the behoof of those and their families over whom it shall please Providence, after a life devoted to the service and practice of architecture and its dependant arts, that need shall fall.

This institution, the scope of which is most extensive, is silently, but rapidly forming, and has already connected with it many of the chief men of the literature and science of architecture: few of those whose names will be found amid the subjoined list have not distinguished themselves by the authorship of some eminent architectural work, and many of them are well known in the sciences and arts connected with architecture. A power, an order, and a propriety previously unknown in the profession since the fall of pointed architecture in the sixteenth century, are being worked out, by having every man at his post, and with ability to fill that post well.

Twelve meetings of the College are appointed to take place in every year, and four have already been held.

The following elections have taken place:—

_Advent-Eve_, 1842.

1. Edward Cresy, Esq., F.S.A., Architect of Trafalgar-square, as Professor of Pointed Architecture.

2. Thomas Parker, Jun., Esq., of Lincoln’s-Inn, as Professor of Architectural Jurisprudence.

3. Valentine Bartholomew, Esq., F.R.B.S., Flower-Painter in Ordinary to the Queen, of 23, Charlotte-street, Portland-place, as Professor of Fruit and Flower Painting.

4. George Aitchison, Esq., Architect, A.I.C.E., Surveyor to the St. Katharine’s Dock Company, and to the Honourable the Commissioners of Sewers for the Precinct of St. Katharine, as Professor of Concreting and Opus Incertum.

5. W. R. Billings, Esq., of Manor House, Kentish Town, as Itinerant Delineator.

6. William Bartholomew, Esq., of Gray’s Inn, Vestry Clerk of St. John, Clerkenwell, as Honorary Solicitor.

7. W. P Griffith, Esq., F.S.A., Architect, St. John’s-square, as Baptisterographer, or Delineator of Fonts and Baptisteries.

8. Frederick Thatcher, Esq., A.R.I.B.A., Architect, of Furnival’s Inn, as Recorder, or Clerk of Proceedings.

9. William Fisk, Esq., of Howland-street, as Professor of Historical Painting.

10. C.H. Smith, Esq., of Clipstone-street, as Architectural Sculptor.

11. Thomas Deighton, Esq., of Eaton-place, Belgrave-square, Architectural Modeller to her Majesty and Prince Albert, as Modeller of Buildings.

12. W. G. Rogers, Esq., of Great Newport-street, as Gibbons Carver.

13. J. G. Jackson, Esq., Architect, of Leamington Priors, as Correspondent Delineator for the County of Warwick.

14. T. L. Walker, Esq., F.R.I.B.A., Architect, of Nuneaton, Warwick, as Correspondent Delineator for the County of Warwick.

15. John Mallcott, Esq., of Newgate-street, as Professor of Masonry.

16. Alfred Bartholomew, Esq., F.S.A., Architect, of Warwick House, Gray’s Inn, as Honorary Secretary.

17. Josiah Houle, Esq., Architect, of Turnham-green, as Custos.

18. Joseph Springbett, Esq., of Islington, Architect, as Cataloguist of Proceedings.

19. James De-Carle Sowerby, Esq., F.L.S., F.R.B.S., Secretary of the Royal Botanical Society, Regent’s-park, as Professor of Botany.

20. Thomas Moule, Esq., St. James’s Palace, as Honorary Architectural Biographer.

21. Walter Chamberlaine, Esq., Worcester, as Maker of Encaustic Tile Pavements.

22. H. P. Bone, Esq., of 12, Percy-street, Enamel Painter to Her Majesty, as Enamel Painter.

23. Also, Miss F. Bessemer, of Pentonville, Embroidress to the Queen, as Embroidress.

The Honorary Fellowship was conferred upon the following gentlemen:—

Sir F. Palgrave, Knt., F.R.S., and F.S.A., of the Rolls’-house, Chancery-lane.

The Rev. R. Willis, M.A., F.R.S., Jacksonian Professor, Cambridge.

The Rev. William Whewell, B.D., V.P.R.S., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Thomas Willement, Esq., F.S.A., of Green-street, Grosvenor-square.

James Savage, Esq., F.S.A., Architect, of Essex-street, Strand.

Messrs. Nichols, FF.S.A. of the Gentleman’s Magazine, Parliament-street.

Owen Jones, Esq., Architect, of John-street, Adelphi.

C. Berry, Esq., R.A., Architect, London.

J. H. Good, Esq., F.R.I.B.A., Architect, Kensington Palace, Surveyor to her Majesty’s Commissioners for Building Churches, to the Incorporated Society for Building, &c., Churches, to the Pavilion at Brighton, and to Kensington Palace.

Samuel Ware, Esq., F.S.A., Portland-place and Henden Hall.

R. Abraham, Esq., F.S.A., of Keppel-street, Architect to the Herald’s College, &c.; with a request that he will take the honorary office of Mensurator.

James Ingram, D.D., President of Trinity College, Oxford.

The Secretaries of the Society of Antiquaries, of the Oxford Gothic Society, of the Church Commissioners, and of the Society for Building, &c. Churches.

Each of the Church Commissioners.

Each Bishop, Dean, Archdeacon, and Rural Dean, and each Master of the Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge.

Each of the Kings-at-Arms.

_Elections, Second Chapter, Dec. 13, 1842._

Augustus Abraham Winterbottom, Esq., Architect, Walham-green, Fulham, as Fellow and Auditor.

_Honorary Fellows._

Rev. Hugh Hughes, B.D., Rector of the Knights Hospitallers’ Ancient Priorial Church of St. John of Jerusalem, at Clerkenwell, to be one of the Chaplains to the College.

Rev. Daniel Moore, B.A., of Maida Hill, to be also one of the Chaplains to the College.

Rev. George Newneham Wright, M.A., of Hatton-garden, Editor of the Colonial Magazine.

C. Irving, Esq., L.L.D., F.A.S., Editor of the Polytechnic Journal.

W. H. Black, Esq., Impropriate Rector of Little Maplestead, Essex, and Assistant Keeper of the Public Records at the Rolls’ House, Chancery-lane.

_Elections, Third Chapter, Jan. 10, 1843._

Thomas Hudson Turner, Esq., of 6, Symond’s Inn, as Professor of Heraldry.

Mr. E. Cresy, Jun., of 3, Trafalgar Square, as one of the Collectors and Designers of Monumental Brasses.

John William Griffith, Esq., of St. John’s Square, Architect, Fellow and Auditor.

James Collie, Esq., of Glasgow, Architect, Honorary Fellow, and also Correspondent Delineator for Scotland.

Samuel Ware, Esq., of Portland Place and Hendon Hall, as Contributing Fellow.

James Wilson, Esq., F.S.A., Architect, of 6, Alfred Place, Bath, as Fellow and Correspondent Delineator for the County of Somerset.

Henry Ashton, Esq., Architect, of 50, Lower Brooke Street, Grosvenor Square, as Honorary Fellow.

George Porter, Esq., Architect, of Fort Place, Bermondsey, District Surveyor of the Parish of Newington, and of North Lambeth, as Fellow and Auditor.

William Conrade Lochner, Esq., F.I.B.A., Architect, of Albion Hall, London, Surveyor to the Royal Exchange Assurance Company, as Fellow and Auditor.

David Sands, Esq., Architect, Walham Green, Fulham, as Fellow.

Mr. J. W. Archer, of Clarendon Street, New Road, Monumental Brassier.

William Bland, Esq., of Hartlip, near Sittingborne, Kent, as Honorary Fellow.

George Pearce Pocock, Esq., of Norfolk Street, Strand, Solicitor, as Lay Fellow and Auditor.

Alfred Fowler, Esq., of Datchet, as Lay Fellow.

Rev. Frederick Pearce Pocock, B.A., of St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, as Honorary Fellow, and also one of the Chaplains.

William Wallen, Esq., F.S.A., of 41, West Parade, Huddersfield, as Fellow and Correspondent Delineator for the County of York.

_At the Fourth Chapter, held Feb. 14th._

A beautiful illuminated Election Diploma was ordered to be adopted; and the following elections were made—

Rev. Geo. Pocock, Vicar of Hallsham, Honorary Fellow and Chaplain.

W. P. Griffith, Esq., St. John’s Square, London, Contributing Fellow.

J. J. Wood, Esq., Civil Engineer, New Palace Road, Lambeth, Fellow.

C. L. Greaves, Esq., Fulham, Lay Fellow.

T. Dodd, Esq., Curator to the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Lay Fellow.

W. F. Harrison, Esq., Rochester, Lay Fellow.

R. Call, Esq., of Tavistock Street, Bedford Square, Lay Fellow, and Professor of Architectural Acoustics.

Mr. W. H. Rogers, of Great Newport Street, Illuminator.

We recommend architects, architectural students, and patrons of architecture to join this institution, the advantages of which promise to be great, and the costs small.

PUBLIC FOOTPATHS, &c.

The following letter is so generally applicable to the subject of the management of the roads and footways in the environs of large towns, that we insert it as much on that account as for the particular drift which recommends it to the attention of our metropolitan readers:—

_To the Editor of the Morning Herald._

“Sir,—The readiness with which you insert notices of public grievances, and the effect which these notices always have in drawing attention to them, induces me to state to you a serious inconvenience to which the inhabitants of Bayswater are subject, in the hope that it may through your pages attract the attention of the Metropolitan Road Commission.

“It is simply this that the footpath of a considerable portion of the Bayswater-road, between the end of Oxford-street and the door into Kensington-gardens, is during wet weather, and especially after frost, in a worse state than any other footpath, as far as I know, in the neighbourhood of London; in fact, though in the immediate suburbs of the metropolis, it has, with its wide and deep open ditch, and rough hedge bank, all the characteristics of a footpath in a remote rural district. It requires only to be inspected, to produce conviction that it ought no longer to remain in its present disgraceful state. On the other side of the road, approaching the door into Kensington-gardens, there is another open ditch, which serves as a common sewer to the houses in its neighbourhood; and the fœtid exhalations from this ditch in the warm weather, and the filthy appearance of the water in it at all times, are disgraceful to the public authorities; more especially in these days, when so much attention is being paid to public drainage, and other sanitary measures.

“The parish authorities have been repeatedly applied to, but their answer is, that it is the business of the Road Commissioners to attend to these footpaths and ditches.

“As to the footpaths, they ought to be paved, or laid with asphalte; but if it be too expensive to pave the whole width of the footpath, a strip of two feet wide, along the middle, would be a great accommodation to females and aged persons, and to workmen going to and returning from their work in the morning and evenings. Some years ago you published a letter of mine, in which I endeavoured to point out the advantages that would result from paving a narrow strip along the middle of the footpaths, or two separate strips along such as were much frequented, on all the footpaths round London for several miles distant. Besides the obvious accommodation to females and infirm persons which this strip of pavement or asphalte would afford, it would enable mechanics going to their work to walk nearly as fast again as they do now, and consequently they might have their dwellings farther out in the country, where they would pay lower rents, and sleep in better air. Strips of Yorkshire pavement two feet wide might be laid down at 1s. 3d. per foot in length, or cheaper if the contract were made for laying down several miles of it.

“As for the ditches on the Bayswater-road, they require only an 18-inch barrel-drain, and filling up to the level of the path.

“If I might farther trespass on your pages, I would direct public attention to the manner in which the trees and shrubs along footpaths are cut and mangled by the parochial road-surveyors in the suburbs of London. On the south side of roads lying in the direction of east and west, it may be advantageous to cut off all those branches which overhang the footpath, the better to admit the sun and wind to act on its surface; but surely the Act of Parliament which directs the lopping of trees overhanging roads, need not be so rigidly enforced in the case of streets running in the direction from north to south, along the whole surface of which the sun shines a portion of every day throughout the year when he appears; whereas on the south sides of east and west streets, during a portion of every day in the year, he does not shine at all. The street from which I date this letter consists of detached houses, each surrounded by a garden, the low trees and large shrubs in which slightly overhang the footpath, or rather, I should say, break and vary the line of the front palisades, and render the street one of the most picturesque in the immediate neighbourhood of town; but of late a new parochial road-surveyor acting, no doubt with the best intentions, according to the letter of the law, has given notice to all the occupants to cut off the overhanging branches, which having been done by the greater number of occupants, even to the cutting off of the projecting tufts of ivy, has produced a formal line of amputation which disfigures the street, without doing any good whatever. In the case of a north and south street, it is surely sufficient to cut off all branches that would impede a tall person carrying an umbrella, or which reach as far as the curb-stone, and might be in the way of the cart or carriage taking up or setting down. I understand that in such a case as this there is no appeal, except to the magistrates, who of course can only point to the law.

“I hope this last subject may be considered as coming within the province of the Metropolitan Commission for Improvements lately formed, and if so, I hope they will consider this letter as an appeal to them.

“It never can be the intention of the Legislature to disfigure any public road or street when doing so is attended with no public good whatever.

“Apologizing for the length of this letter, and hoping you will be able to spare room for it,

“I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

“J. C. LOUDON.

“No. 3, Porchester-terrace, Bayswater, “February 14th, 1843.”

COTTAGE WINDOWS.

_Extracted from the Supplement to London’s Cyclopædia of Architecture._

“Windows having been generally among the worst constructed parts of Scotch cottages, the Highland Society offered a premium for the best cottage window, which was awarded to Messrs. M’Culloch and Co. of Glasgow, for the form shewn in figs. 2246. to 2248. This form, of the dimensions shown in the figure, viz., three feet three inches by two feet, without the wooden frame, costs, in cast iron, only 5s., and the glass for such a window may be purchased at 2¾ d. per square. This kind of window admits of being formed of any size, and is equally adapted for workshops, farm buildings where glass windows are required, and cottages.

The dimensions that have been recommended for the windows of ordinary cottages are, thirty-nine inches for the height, and twenty-four inches for the width, within the wooden frames. The size of glass required for these frames is seven and a quarter inches by five and a quarter inches. The sash is divided into two unequal parts, the lower part having three squares in height, and the upper part two. The lower part is permanently fixed, while the upper part is constructed to turn in the vertical direction on pivots, which are situate in the line of its middle astragal; and both parts are set in a substantial wooden frame, which may be either built in while the wall is erecting, or may be set in afterwards in the ordinary way, with or without checked rabbets (§ 911), according to the taste of the proprietor. The window, and its arrangements, will be better understood by reference to the annexed figures.

Fig. 2246. is an inside elevation, fig. 2248. a plan, and fig. 2247. a vertical section, in each of which a portion of the wall is exhibited, and the same letters refer to the corresponding parts in each figure; _a_ is a portion of the surrounding wall; _b_, the wooden frame of the window; _c_, the lower sash, which is dormant; and _d_, the upper and moveable sash.