part on the ceiling of some “vast never-to-be-built temple. ” Watts never considered a subject for the Euston Station Hall, and his widow hopes by this contradiction to finally kill “an error which still survives with official authority in the catalogue of the National Gallery at Millbank. ” For assistance in that endeavour we give this authoritative explanation; and trust that the art history of recent times is not going to be as unreliable as some of the political history. To the modern historian in any field, theories seem more attractive than facts, and, if cornered by the latter, some murmur about “Jesting Pilate” is relied upon to save the situation.
Although the scheme for erecting new headquarters for London University in Bloomsbury must wait until financial requirements have been provided for, many building schemes are being carried out or projected by individual units of the University. The London School of Economics is being extended in Houghton Street, Aldwych; King’s College is adding new floors on the top of its existing buildings, and has acquired a site at the back of Aldwych Station for its Art School. University College is gradually spreading along Gower Street, and Bedford College, in Regent’s Park, is also adding to its accommodation. A sports ground at Wimbledon and a boating centre at Chiswick are other acquisitions for the use of University students, but these probably do not figure in the “official” list of building enterprises.
The closing by the War Office of a footpath near the Beachley Training School, Chepstow, has caused considerable local indignation. The Lydney Rural District Council has taken up the matter, as it is claimed that the path has been a public right of way from time immemorial. The War Office has replied disputing this contention, but the Council has resolved to take legal proceedings unless the War Office reconsiders their action.
A scheme for giving voluntary assistance and advice to those about to undertake the reconditioning of rural cottages and buildings under the provisions of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of last year has been prepared by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, and is now being considered by the R. I. B. A. The passing of this Act was received by architects with somewhat mixed feelings, for while most of them rejoiced that some financial machinery had been devised by the Government which would enable many picturesque old cottages to be preserved and brought into a sound and habitable condition, there is the danger that the renovation, in unsympathetic or uncomprehending hands, might result in the destruction of any beauty or architectural qualities an old building of this class might possess. The main idea of the scheme is to enable well-qualified architectural assistance to be available for advising on proposals for reconditioning, but, as in some cases, such competent advice will not be obtainable, the C. P. R. E. have drawn up a pamphlet of general rules and recommendations for such work. In this it is advised that new materials should be, so far as possible, similar to those previously employed in the old buildings. Where thatches can be obtained, cottages that have once been thatched should have the covering renewed. In the case of stone buildings, where it is not possible to obtain stone slates, green or grey are better than blue slates, and so on. All such advice is excellent, and will, we hope, be largely resorted to by those concerned, but the root trouble lies in finance; and little will be accomplished without skilled advice to determine, in each case, the essential and unessential points, and the relative costs of adopting this or that method of reparation without destroying the artistic
merits of the building. The tendency will be only too often, we fear, to rely mainly on the rough and ready suggestions of builders, accompanied by a fixed priced tender. The problem which the R. I. B. A. has to consider is how the skilled advice may be obtained — frankly, without fee.
Some interesting reparation works are at present being carried out. That of the Lincoln’s Inn Old Hall, which is proceeding very slowly, bids fair from observation to be more a matter of restoration than repair, for both brickwork and stonework, when divested of their external stucco, proved to be in such crumbling condition that more drastic measures have had to be instituted than were orginally contemplated. In the new hall of the Inn, Watts’ fresco of “Justice, ” which has been in a state of decay for many years, is being preserved by a special process. The fresco, which is 45 feet high and 40 feet wide, has an added interest from the fact that Watts worked in it portraits of some of his friends, including Holman Hunt, Tennyson and Sir William Harcourt. At Eton College, Professor Tristam is engaged in restoring some of the famous wall paintings in the College Chapel. These were obliterated with oil paint at the beginning of the eighteenth century when an organ loft was erected. The obliterating paint was removed some years ago, and the old designs revealed, but in a much damaged condition, portions having either wholly or almost wholly disappeared. Professor Tristam’s method of treatment is extraordinarily ingenious and conservative. There is no repainting of the old surface; whatever remains is left untouched. But reproductions of the missing portions are painted upon panels, which are superimposed over the obliterated areas, thus linking up the disconnected portions of the designs, and the tones of the fresh pigments are toned to agree with those of the old around them. At a short distance the juncture of new and old can hardly be detected, and the design, as a whole, is preserved, while it is possible to remove the new panels and view the faint traces of the original beneath them. In Somerset repairs are being carried out by the Office of Works at Muchelney Abbey, scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act. Muchelney was a small monastic house of the Benedictine Order, and nothing of its church now remains, although some remains were unearthed in 1873 in an adjoining orchard and the parish churchyard of the village. But much of the Abbot’s lodging, together with some original stone fireplaces in untouched condition, part of the contemporary seating, etc., remain in the existing house, which was used as a farmhouse for many years, prior to being transferred to the charge of the Commissioner of Works.
A memorial to the late Dr. John Clifford is being projected in the form of a new lecture hall and classrooms, for religious and educational work, to be erected on a site adjoining Westbourne Park Church, of which he was pastor for so many years. The cost is estimated at £5, 000, of which £2, 000 has been raised, and a special appeal is being made to members of different dissenting denominations to subscribe the balance.
The Harrow Urban District Council have decided to abandon the more ambitious of the extension schemes for their area, submitted to the Middlesex County Council; and to promote the smaller scheme, which includes the whole of Pinner and small parts of Northolt, Wembley and Wealdstone.
The old Bridge House at Ambleside has been purchased by a group of Lake District residents interested in the preservation of old buildings.
Although the scheme for erecting new headquarters for London University in Bloomsbury must wait until financial requirements have been provided for, many building schemes are being carried out or projected by individual units of the University. The London School of Economics is being extended in Houghton Street, Aldwych; King’s College is adding new floors on the top of its existing buildings, and has acquired a site at the back of Aldwych Station for its Art School. University College is gradually spreading along Gower Street, and Bedford College, in Regent’s Park, is also adding to its accommodation. A sports ground at Wimbledon and a boating centre at Chiswick are other acquisitions for the use of University students, but these probably do not figure in the “official” list of building enterprises.
The closing by the War Office of a footpath near the Beachley Training School, Chepstow, has caused considerable local indignation. The Lydney Rural District Council has taken up the matter, as it is claimed that the path has been a public right of way from time immemorial. The War Office has replied disputing this contention, but the Council has resolved to take legal proceedings unless the War Office reconsiders their action.
A scheme for giving voluntary assistance and advice to those about to undertake the reconditioning of rural cottages and buildings under the provisions of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of last year has been prepared by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, and is now being considered by the R. I. B. A. The passing of this Act was received by architects with somewhat mixed feelings, for while most of them rejoiced that some financial machinery had been devised by the Government which would enable many picturesque old cottages to be preserved and brought into a sound and habitable condition, there is the danger that the renovation, in unsympathetic or uncomprehending hands, might result in the destruction of any beauty or architectural qualities an old building of this class might possess. The main idea of the scheme is to enable well-qualified architectural assistance to be available for advising on proposals for reconditioning, but, as in some cases, such competent advice will not be obtainable, the C. P. R. E. have drawn up a pamphlet of general rules and recommendations for such work. In this it is advised that new materials should be, so far as possible, similar to those previously employed in the old buildings. Where thatches can be obtained, cottages that have once been thatched should have the covering renewed. In the case of stone buildings, where it is not possible to obtain stone slates, green or grey are better than blue slates, and so on. All such advice is excellent, and will, we hope, be largely resorted to by those concerned, but the root trouble lies in finance; and little will be accomplished without skilled advice to determine, in each case, the essential and unessential points, and the relative costs of adopting this or that method of reparation without destroying the artistic
merits of the building. The tendency will be only too often, we fear, to rely mainly on the rough and ready suggestions of builders, accompanied by a fixed priced tender. The problem which the R. I. B. A. has to consider is how the skilled advice may be obtained — frankly, without fee.
Some interesting reparation works are at present being carried out. That of the Lincoln’s Inn Old Hall, which is proceeding very slowly, bids fair from observation to be more a matter of restoration than repair, for both brickwork and stonework, when divested of their external stucco, proved to be in such crumbling condition that more drastic measures have had to be instituted than were orginally contemplated. In the new hall of the Inn, Watts’ fresco of “Justice, ” which has been in a state of decay for many years, is being preserved by a special process. The fresco, which is 45 feet high and 40 feet wide, has an added interest from the fact that Watts worked in it portraits of some of his friends, including Holman Hunt, Tennyson and Sir William Harcourt. At Eton College, Professor Tristam is engaged in restoring some of the famous wall paintings in the College Chapel. These were obliterated with oil paint at the beginning of the eighteenth century when an organ loft was erected. The obliterating paint was removed some years ago, and the old designs revealed, but in a much damaged condition, portions having either wholly or almost wholly disappeared. Professor Tristam’s method of treatment is extraordinarily ingenious and conservative. There is no repainting of the old surface; whatever remains is left untouched. But reproductions of the missing portions are painted upon panels, which are superimposed over the obliterated areas, thus linking up the disconnected portions of the designs, and the tones of the fresh pigments are toned to agree with those of the old around them. At a short distance the juncture of new and old can hardly be detected, and the design, as a whole, is preserved, while it is possible to remove the new panels and view the faint traces of the original beneath them. In Somerset repairs are being carried out by the Office of Works at Muchelney Abbey, scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act. Muchelney was a small monastic house of the Benedictine Order, and nothing of its church now remains, although some remains were unearthed in 1873 in an adjoining orchard and the parish churchyard of the village. But much of the Abbot’s lodging, together with some original stone fireplaces in untouched condition, part of the contemporary seating, etc., remain in the existing house, which was used as a farmhouse for many years, prior to being transferred to the charge of the Commissioner of Works.
A memorial to the late Dr. John Clifford is being projected in the form of a new lecture hall and classrooms, for religious and educational work, to be erected on a site adjoining Westbourne Park Church, of which he was pastor for so many years. The cost is estimated at £5, 000, of which £2, 000 has been raised, and a special appeal is being made to members of different dissenting denominations to subscribe the balance.
The Harrow Urban District Council have decided to abandon the more ambitious of the extension schemes for their area, submitted to the Middlesex County Council; and to promote the smaller scheme, which includes the whole of Pinner and small parts of Northolt, Wembley and Wealdstone.
The old Bridge House at Ambleside has been purchased by a group of Lake District residents interested in the preservation of old buildings.