Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/10

2 churches of revived Gothic in the recollection of the writer was St. Matthew's in the City Road, not very far from the "Angel" at Islington, a pleasanter quarter then than now. Holy Trinity, Paddington, is also remembered as a brand-new church in 1849. St. Mary Abbot's at Kensington is one of the most important examples, and were it but old, and perhaps less obscured by stained glass, it would command much admiration. The Gothic revival has been maintained through nearly the sixty years, its last achievement being the re-edification of the greater part of St. Mary's Overie, Southwark, which has become a twentieth-century cathedral—a fine work in our day, yet small in contrast with the mighty churches of old. And here must have mention the constant sustentation work at the Abbey, especially the facial restoration of the north transept, the merit of which is perhaps generally allowed, though it would be vain to expect unanimous approval. On St. Paul's, internally, elaborate and costly art has been bestowed, and new, sweet bells ring from its belfry. Also much redemption work has been done on our one great Norman fragment, St. Bartholomew's.

The Gothic art has not been employed on churches alone; it has been frequently applied to secular buildings, and if its success be questionable, the doubt seems to affect only the interior adaptability to modern use. We are now mainly concerned with the external beauty imparted to London, and find great satisfaction in these Gothic acquisitions. The Houses of Parliament were building in the forties and some years later; they are certainly beautiful. Fault-finding is always easy, especially when architecture is concerned; here the main body of the building has been thought deficient in proportion, and overwrought with repeated ornament. But if this be the fault, it is redeemed by the noble towers, especially the Victoria Tower, the stately magnitude and grace of which render it unrivalled throughout the world.

Next we are reminded of the removal of the comparatively modern buildings of the Courts of Justice, now transposed to another site, whither we will presently follow them, observing here the opening of space and the revelation of old Westminster Hall, the famous beauty of which, however, is internal. At Westminster block after block of grand Government buildings has been raised, and still they are far from completion. Projects have but slowly progressed in a city where energy and industry have enormously enhanced the value of ground, and where justice to the full must recognize individual rights. Thus, we had almost despaired of the long-projected widening of Parliament Street, but now, as an accomplished fact, it has become the fitting avenue of the truly imperial quarter of London. The earliest block, the Treasury Offices at Whitehall, was the work of the forties. This, indeed, was not much more than a new front to an old building; it was and is handsome classic work, but scale has greatly increased, and this block has become dwarfed by later buildings of greater proportions. The Home, Colonial, Foreign, and India Offices form a splendid group, which happily on one side presents itself to St. James's Park, and thence makes a very charming picture. The great War Office block, raised in front of the comparatively insignificant, but still appreciated Horse Guards, is now outwardly completed. The Admiralty still turns a stately though gloomy visage towards the street; but large and handsome additions have been made on the Park side. Another immense block of buildings is rising with faces towards the Abbey and Parliament Street, and we wait with unfailing interest the full realization of this magnificent seat of Government.

Westminster must not be left without observing from the fine bridge across the river the eight handsome divisions of St. Thomas's Hospital, a very noticeable addition to the beauty of London. The new police quarters on the Westminster bank are also important, though less admired. And along the Embankment (noticed in my previous communication) have risen the fine buildings of the London School Board—now the London County Council's Educational Offices—the Thames Conservancy, the City off London School, and others.





was the third son of Richard, Lord Latimer, who died 1531, and uncle of the last lord, who died 1577. He and his younger brother Marmaduke married Maria and Elizabeth, two of the four daughters and coheiresses of Sir Thomas Tey, of Brightwell Hall, Suffolk, and Pigott's Ardley, Essex.

Morant's account of him (apparently taken from Harl. MS. 3882) is full of gross inaccuracies, which it may be well to correct. His history is of interest, as, if any male-descendant remains, he would be the heir