Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/166

 142 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. stone. In brick countries, 256 hollow brick walls will be found both the clieapest and the best, both for the main building and the lean-to, containing d, e,f, g, and h- The roof may be of slate ; the windows latticed ; and the pillars of the porch of squared wood ; or, in some countries, they would be cheaper and better of slate, or slate stone. It is not the custom to form such co- lumns of earthenware tubes, such as are made for flues in hot-houses, both in Bri- tain and on the continent of Europe ; but we have no doubt that such a mode would answer well, the weight being carried by a prop of wood, iron, or brick, in the centre of the tubes. The terro-metallic earth of Staffordshire would form admirable columns, lintels, summer stones, copings, ornamental chimney tops, and other component parts of buildings. Indeed, much might be done with common brick earth ; but, unfortunately for Britain, all articles formed of this material are heavily taxed, and, to save trouble to the exciseman, the brickmaker is only allowed to make his bricks of certain forms and dimensions; viz., for building bricks, nine inches by four inches and a half, and two inches and a half. If he deviates from these, and makes a brick either longer or broader than usual, or impresses a moulding on one end, or on one side, he renders himself liable to such an increase of duty as amounts to a prohibition of the article. Two or three centuries ago, bricks were made in every form, ornamental and useful, which the Architect could desire ; for a proof of which, we have only to look to the Elizabethan mansions which still exist in different parts of the country. Even so early as the time of Henry VIII., the art of making bricks to serve all the purposes of stone in the jambs and lintels of doors and windows, appears to have been carried to a great degree of perfection. At Sutton Place, near Ripley, in Surrey, built by this monarch's brewer, the piers, lintels, muUions, chimney tops, tracery in the wdndows of the chapel, and other parts, some highly ornamented, are formed of artificial stone or brick ; and are still in excellent repair. Fig. 257, in isome- trical perspective, on a scale of a quarter of an inch to a foot, shows the manner in which the shelf is supported over the window in the gable end. 275. General Estimate. Cubic contents, 10,818 feet, at 6d. per foot, .£"270 : 9s., at 4rf,, £180 : 6s. ; and at 3rf., £135 : 4s. : 6d. 276. Remarks. What has the mental architect to say to this building ? What is the kind of mind discoverable in the elevation? Certainly it docs not exhibit a single feature of vulgarity. The pillars and cornice, and the brackets to one of the windows, have, on