Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/23

 Connection Methodist Chapel. It is sufficient to say of the exterior that it is a substantial brick erection, built by Messrs. Bowden and Edwards, a series of arches running along the walls to give strength to them, and beauty to their appearance at the same time. The dimensions are 135 feet by 103 feet. The height of the walls is 27 feet. The roof is in three compartments, running lengthwise of the building, and the central compartment, which is somewhat loftier than the outer ones, being supported by massive iron columns in the interior. The outer compartments of the roof also rest principally upon these columns, so as to throw as little as possible of a lateral pressure upon the walls. The roof, although of slate, is extremely light for a building of such dimensions, and the use of plaster having been dispensed with in the construction of a ceiling (for which thin laths, covered with paper, are substituted), it will be seen how absurd were the reports spread by interested parties against the safety of the structure. To secure greater comfort and convenience to company set down for admission at the principal entrances,a spacious awning, extending the whole length of the front of the Hall has been thrown across South-street, and internal communications have thus been secured with the Wellington Hotel, which having been for some time unoccupied, the committee have engaged for the sake of the conveniences it was found capable of supplying, in the shape of ante-rooms and places of meeting for the committees and stewards having the management of the meetings and banquets.

"Entering the ball from the awning in South-street just described, the visitor is struck with the extent of space which bursts upon the eye—of which an examination of the exterior of the building affords a very inadequate idea—as well as with the magnificence of the place generally. But at the opposite end is a dais which commands a better view of the whole, and there we will go and take our stand