BOOK REVIEWS. An Encyclopedia of Ironwork. Examples of Hand
Wrought Ironwork from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. With an historical in
troduction by Otto Hoever. London: Ernest Benn, Ltd. Price, 42s. net.
This is another of the sumptuously produced architectural picture books for which these publishers have acquired a reputation, but as an encyclopedia its interest is kinematical rather than analytical, for Mr. Hoever’s introduction, interspersed with numerous diagrams, covers no more than 20 pages, and is necessarily limited to the broadest possible survey of motifs and developments in the various European countries. Of the 457 separate examples shown in the illustrations from the countries he covers, no less than 269 are taken from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the German part of Switzerland. The Teutonic examples, to English eyes, will appear somewhat excessive, and many of the later examples, despite technical skill, as too florid and exuberant for the medium. France contributes 87 examples, Italy 56, Spain 15, Denmark 9, and the Netherlands 4. Of English work 17 examples are given, the majority being pieces of 18th century domestic work, although one of Tijou’s Hampton Court screens finds a place, and but two mediæval pieces — screens of the 13th and 14th centuries — but all are museum specimens. The plates are arranged in chronological order, but a defect in the volume is the absence of an index to them. Although England has been neglected in this volume much more than she deserves, the designer should be able to derive inspiration from the many fine examples of the earlier ironwork in other European countries.
West Kent Joint Regional Planning Report. By W. R. Davidge, F. R. I. B. A., F. S. I., A. M. Inst. C. E., M. P. T. I. London: Vacher & Sons, Ltd. Price 10s. 6d. net.
Mr. Davidge, as town-planning consultant, has turned out a very good report on this regional planning scheme, dealing with an area most of which lies in Kent, a good deal in Surrey, and a small part in Sussex. No item of importance seems to have been omitted from consideration, and numerous excellent maps and photographic illustrations will bring before readers, even those not acquainted with the area, a very clear picture of the factors, social, occupational and traffic, to which attention must be paid in forecasting the lines of its future development. The main point of the proposals put forward for dealing with the area is a recognition of the desirability of preserving, as far as possible, this very beautiful portion of the Home Counties for the agricultural and residential purposes it at present fulfils. The advent of colliery enterprise in the eastern part of Kent has filled most people with fears as to the future of the “Garden of England, ” which is, also, our largest producer of fruit of all kinds. For the determination to conserve the amenities of the western half, our thanks are due to Mr. Davidge, and the Joint Committee he serves.
The Wren Society. Vol. iv., 1927. Hampton Court Palace, 1689-1702. Oxford: Printed for the Society at the University Press. Issued only to subscribers.
This volume deals with Wren’s work at Hampton Court, carried out under the ægis and inspiration mainly of Queen Mary II., whose mentality the great architect appears to have held in a respect not wholly attributable to his patron’s position or the dictates of policy. So much we learn from the very interesting detailed account which Mr. Arthur T. Bolton, the Society’s chief editor, assisted by its secretary, Mr.
Duncan Hendry, gives of Wren’s activities in connection with the building. Indeed this volume shows a notable departure from previous issues of the Society, inasmuch as the letterpress, with its numerous anecdotes, items of personal interest, particulars of the workmen engaged, copies of accounts, etc., culled from various sources and hitherto unprinted, vies in interest with the Wren drawings which it was the main object of the Society to make more generally available by reproduction. Though the publications of this Society are issued only to subscribing members, the subscription is but one guinea per annum, and for the very few surplus copies the secretary, at 53 Doughty Street, London, W. C. l, will doubtless be willing to enrol those who desire to have them.
Work of the Government Laboratory. Report of the Government Chemist for the year ending March 31, 1927. H. M. Stationery Office. Price 1s. 3d. net.
This report gives an account of extensive analytical and investigation work undertaken for the various Government departments, much of which appears to be attributable to the existing import duties. There appears to have been little work directly connected with the building industry, but among the activities recorded it is stated that members of the staff have served on the Committee of the British Engineering Standards Association dealing with varnish and paints and with creosoting, and on the Building Research Board, Weathering Committee, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Among the papers and reports communicated by the laboratory staff during the year under review, the following may be mentioned: “Defective condition of the stone
work of the Houses of Parliament, and proposals for its restoration. ’’ Reports by the Government Chemist on the stones. (Cmd. 2752. H. M. Stationery Office. Price 1s. 3d. net). “The Analyses of Pigments, Paints, and Varnishes, ” by J. J. Fox, O. B. E., B. Sc.,
and T. H. Bowles, F. I. C. (Ernest Benn, Ltd. ) Price 16s. net.
British Standard Engineering Drawing Office Practice. No. 308 of 1927. London: Published by Crosby Lockwood & Son for the British Engineering Standards Association, 28 Victoria Street, London, S. W. l. Price 2s. net, or post free from the Association, 2s. 2d.
With the laudable object of securing a uniform standard procedure in the preparation and submission, by manufacturers and contractors, of drawings, tracings and blue prints, this brochure has just been published. The Report covers the whole scope of the presentation of engineering design in drawings, from the overall sizes of paper to the indication of screwthreads, and gives explanatory diagrams, suitable abbreviations, and methods of numbering, dating, etc. The recommendations have been devised, as far as possible, so that no hardship should fall on firms whose methods do not at present coincide with those given, but the success of the system put forward will naturally depend on its general adoption by those interested.
Books Received
Journal of the British Society of Master Glass- Parinters. Vol. II., No. 2. (Published at the offices of the Society, 6 Queen Square, London, W. C. l. ) 10s. 6d.
The Building of Twelve Thousand Houses. By the Rt, Hon. Sir J. Tudor Walters, P. C., F. S. I.
(Ernest Benn, Ltd. ) £1 1s. net.
Wrought Ironwork from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. With an historical in
troduction by Otto Hoever. London: Ernest Benn, Ltd. Price, 42s. net.
This is another of the sumptuously produced architectural picture books for which these publishers have acquired a reputation, but as an encyclopedia its interest is kinematical rather than analytical, for Mr. Hoever’s introduction, interspersed with numerous diagrams, covers no more than 20 pages, and is necessarily limited to the broadest possible survey of motifs and developments in the various European countries. Of the 457 separate examples shown in the illustrations from the countries he covers, no less than 269 are taken from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the German part of Switzerland. The Teutonic examples, to English eyes, will appear somewhat excessive, and many of the later examples, despite technical skill, as too florid and exuberant for the medium. France contributes 87 examples, Italy 56, Spain 15, Denmark 9, and the Netherlands 4. Of English work 17 examples are given, the majority being pieces of 18th century domestic work, although one of Tijou’s Hampton Court screens finds a place, and but two mediæval pieces — screens of the 13th and 14th centuries — but all are museum specimens. The plates are arranged in chronological order, but a defect in the volume is the absence of an index to them. Although England has been neglected in this volume much more than she deserves, the designer should be able to derive inspiration from the many fine examples of the earlier ironwork in other European countries.
West Kent Joint Regional Planning Report. By W. R. Davidge, F. R. I. B. A., F. S. I., A. M. Inst. C. E., M. P. T. I. London: Vacher & Sons, Ltd. Price 10s. 6d. net.
Mr. Davidge, as town-planning consultant, has turned out a very good report on this regional planning scheme, dealing with an area most of which lies in Kent, a good deal in Surrey, and a small part in Sussex. No item of importance seems to have been omitted from consideration, and numerous excellent maps and photographic illustrations will bring before readers, even those not acquainted with the area, a very clear picture of the factors, social, occupational and traffic, to which attention must be paid in forecasting the lines of its future development. The main point of the proposals put forward for dealing with the area is a recognition of the desirability of preserving, as far as possible, this very beautiful portion of the Home Counties for the agricultural and residential purposes it at present fulfils. The advent of colliery enterprise in the eastern part of Kent has filled most people with fears as to the future of the “Garden of England, ” which is, also, our largest producer of fruit of all kinds. For the determination to conserve the amenities of the western half, our thanks are due to Mr. Davidge, and the Joint Committee he serves.
The Wren Society. Vol. iv., 1927. Hampton Court Palace, 1689-1702. Oxford: Printed for the Society at the University Press. Issued only to subscribers.
This volume deals with Wren’s work at Hampton Court, carried out under the ægis and inspiration mainly of Queen Mary II., whose mentality the great architect appears to have held in a respect not wholly attributable to his patron’s position or the dictates of policy. So much we learn from the very interesting detailed account which Mr. Arthur T. Bolton, the Society’s chief editor, assisted by its secretary, Mr.
Duncan Hendry, gives of Wren’s activities in connection with the building. Indeed this volume shows a notable departure from previous issues of the Society, inasmuch as the letterpress, with its numerous anecdotes, items of personal interest, particulars of the workmen engaged, copies of accounts, etc., culled from various sources and hitherto unprinted, vies in interest with the Wren drawings which it was the main object of the Society to make more generally available by reproduction. Though the publications of this Society are issued only to subscribing members, the subscription is but one guinea per annum, and for the very few surplus copies the secretary, at 53 Doughty Street, London, W. C. l, will doubtless be willing to enrol those who desire to have them.
Work of the Government Laboratory. Report of the Government Chemist for the year ending March 31, 1927. H. M. Stationery Office. Price 1s. 3d. net.
This report gives an account of extensive analytical and investigation work undertaken for the various Government departments, much of which appears to be attributable to the existing import duties. There appears to have been little work directly connected with the building industry, but among the activities recorded it is stated that members of the staff have served on the Committee of the British Engineering Standards Association dealing with varnish and paints and with creosoting, and on the Building Research Board, Weathering Committee, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Among the papers and reports communicated by the laboratory staff during the year under review, the following may be mentioned: “Defective condition of the stone
work of the Houses of Parliament, and proposals for its restoration. ’’ Reports by the Government Chemist on the stones. (Cmd. 2752. H. M. Stationery Office. Price 1s. 3d. net). “The Analyses of Pigments, Paints, and Varnishes, ” by J. J. Fox, O. B. E., B. Sc.,
and T. H. Bowles, F. I. C. (Ernest Benn, Ltd. ) Price 16s. net.
British Standard Engineering Drawing Office Practice. No. 308 of 1927. London: Published by Crosby Lockwood & Son for the British Engineering Standards Association, 28 Victoria Street, London, S. W. l. Price 2s. net, or post free from the Association, 2s. 2d.
With the laudable object of securing a uniform standard procedure in the preparation and submission, by manufacturers and contractors, of drawings, tracings and blue prints, this brochure has just been published. The Report covers the whole scope of the presentation of engineering design in drawings, from the overall sizes of paper to the indication of screwthreads, and gives explanatory diagrams, suitable abbreviations, and methods of numbering, dating, etc. The recommendations have been devised, as far as possible, so that no hardship should fall on firms whose methods do not at present coincide with those given, but the success of the system put forward will naturally depend on its general adoption by those interested.
Books Received
Journal of the British Society of Master Glass- Parinters. Vol. II., No. 2. (Published at the offices of the Society, 6 Queen Square, London, W. C. l. ) 10s. 6d.
The Building of Twelve Thousand Houses. By the Rt, Hon. Sir J. Tudor Walters, P. C., F. S. I.
(Ernest Benn, Ltd. ) £1 1s. net.