Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/302

 284 ee ———— spandrels, a portion above the collar being divided into panels with tracery heads, The whole of the roofs are covered with Bangor slates, with bands and Vandyke red slates and red ridge tiles. The whole of the seats are of red deal, the chancel book-board fronts being richly worked, the ends beingcarved poppy heads andpanels. The font is of Caen stone, the centre shaft, base, and steps, of red Mansfield, the bowl and caps being richly carved. The pulpit, which is circular on plan, is very elaborate, also of Cuenstone, supported on shafts and base of red Mansfield stone; it has recessed, moulded, and traceried niches filled in with diapered panels ; the spandrils between the arched heads of niches are carved with angels’ heads, the whole being sur- mounted by a richly-carved cornice. ‘The reredos is of Ancaster stone, with carved finials to gablets, and caryed bases ; the panels are filledin with the Lord’s Prayer, Creed, and Tables of the Law. The gas- fittings, by Thomas Thomason & Co., of Birming- ham, are of polished brass, of elegant design. The church is heated with hot air by Haden & Son, of Trowbridge. The whole of the works have been executed under the direction of the architect, Mr. W. Knight, of Nottingham. The contractors were Messrs. Dennett & Co.; the carving was executed by Mr. Thompson, Mr. Richard Slaughter being Clerk of the Works. Warriycton.—On Good Friday the foundation- stone of the Wycliffe New Congregational Church was laid. The interior of the building will be in the Byzantine style, freely treated. The principal front consists of a bold gable, with cornice or pediment, together with two doorways, having polished pillars, carved capitals, moulded bases, labels, &c., flanked on each side with two staircase towers, terminating with slated spires. The whole of the walling will be of bricks, faced externally below the base with hammer-dressed walling, the remainder with Platt’s patent pressed bricks, having ashlar dressings from the Minera quarries. The church is 94ft. long by 61ft. wide, exclusive of the towers at each angle, each of which project 14ft. Accommodation will be provided for 1,010 persons, 488 being in the body and 522 in the gallery, including 162 scholars. The architect is George Woodhouse, Esq., of Bolton; the contractor for the whole of the work is Mr. W. Richardson, Warrington ; and Mr. Ephraim Auckland is entrusted with the sub-contract for the stone- work. The contract for the erection of the church was taken at £6,318. Wo.verton.—The parish church of Wolverton has been re-opened after restoration. Wolverton church is an ancient structure of red brick with stone dressings, in theform of a double cross. The south transept must be very old indeed, for the internal walls, when stripped, bore a great resemblance to those of the Norman period, being of flint and rough sandstone. Built up in the wall was found part of an old holy water shrine, the canopy of which, only Late Decorated, was in good preservation. A gallery, which stretched nearly 12ft. into the nave, anda ringing floor have now been removed, and the tower has been thrown open. The length of the church is 67}ft., and the breadth is 18ft. The tower has been furnished with new open seats. The general carry- ing out of the work has been completed by Wheeler Brothers, under the supervision of Mr. Chas. Smith, of Friar-street, Reading. BUILDINGS. Birston.—The foundation-stone of the new Town-hall and Public Library was laid at Bilston on Monday. Mr. Bidlake, of Wolverhampton, is the architect, and Mr. Nelson, of Dudley, the builder. The buildings will have a frontage of 95ft., and on the return front of 74ft. They will be erected with brick, stone faced. The public entrance to the Town- hall will be carried up as a tower. The Free Library Buildings, though uniform in frontage with the Town-hall buildings, will be distinct therefrom. Braprorp Memorrat Scuoors, MANCHESTER. —These schools were opened on the Ist inst. They are Gothic, simple in detail, and effective in appear- anee, with lofty belfry to main roof. The large school.is 80ft. by 35ft., with two class-rooms, each 20ft. by 16ft. Separate entrances are provided, with lavatories adjoining. The sise is enclosed with wrought-iron railing. The works have been executed by Messrs. R. Neill and Sons, builders, at an outlay of £1,600, under the superintendence of the Archi- tect, Mr. Jolin Lowe, Manchester. Lynvy.—Messrs, Machin and Alcock are building new schools for the parishes of Lynby and Papple- wich, the foundation stone of which was laid last week. The building is in the Tudor style of simple design, and consists of a schoolroom containing ac- commodation for 100 children, and a house for the schoolmaster and mistress. It is to be built with THE BUILDING NEWS. rock-faced Lynby stone, and covered with brown Staffordshire tiles. The estimated cost is £800. The architect is Mr. W. B. Sanders, of Nottingham. Warwick Casrie.—The restoration of those portions of the castle destroyed by fire has been com- menced. The work is being executed by Mr. Brom- wich, of Rugby, from plans prepared by Lord Warwick's architect, Mr. Salvin, of London, The walls of the hall, the library, and the private apart- ments have been found much damaged by fire and water. Portions have had to be altogether rebuilt, and other parts strengthened and repaired. The destroyed east wing of the castle will be restored, even to minute details, exactly as before. The internal decorations of the rooms, even, will be care- fully reproduced. —— TO CORRESPONDENTS. [We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents. The Editor respectfully requests that all communications should be drawn up as briefly as possible, as there are many claimants upon the space allotted to correspondence.) To Our READERS.—We shall feel obliged to any of our readers who will favour us with brief notes of works con- templated or in progress in the provinces. Letters relating to advertisements and the ordinary business of the Paper should be addressed to the EDITOR, 31, TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN, W.C, Advertisements for the current week must reach the office not later than 5 p.m, on Thursday. TO AMERICAN SUBSCRIBERS. In answer to numerous inquiries, the Publisher begs to state that subscribers in the United States can be supplied with the BUILDING NEws, post free from this Office, for the sum of 17s, 4d. (4 dols. 16c¢., gold) per annum, payable in advance, = The remittance should, in all cases, be made by International Post-office Order. Recervep.—c. C. S.—G. F.—D. H. & J. N.—D. P. L— G. W. & Sons.—C, A. W.—R. N. S.—G, E, S—D. & Hi— MJ. S—J. C. r.—W. H—H. W. H. & T.—J. 8. 0.— J. W. C,—G. H.—Mrs, B. G. D. W.—Please send summary of evidence. House PLANNING.—We have not yet received the report of the referees. E. J.—Your letter on Law Courts would do no good. The thing is settled. Mr. Street is in possession, sus- tained by law and Government, and by a very large amount of professional and public opinion. After all, just ask yourself, Who is better qualified te do the work ? Correspondence, — - —— PLUMBING. To the Editor of the Burrp1nc News. Srr,—In answer to “B. R. C.” I may mention that step-flashing is referred to at p. 199, March Sth, and it is there stated that whereas raggles or grooves are cut in the stone, “no raggles are cut in the brick. . . the joints of bricks U serve for raggles, as per Fig. 14,” Fig. 16, giving sectional view, showing the apron W, which is stepped, lapping over upstand of lead or zine sque. In the style of Fig. 15 a piece of lead or zinc for sque Yin. broad, and in length according to the length of chimney or gable, is first put on, with Sin. upstand and 6in. on roof; after which the stepped-apron is put on. The length of steps in apron is according to pitch of roof ; some may be (Say) Yin. long, others about twice as much, The following sketch, showing part of a gable wall in brick, will help to explain matters : — From A to Bis 3ft., from B to C—which shows slope of roof—about 5ft. The undulating lines are horizontal joints of bricks. The lowest line and the broken one 3in. above it show upstand of lead or zine sque. The line between them shows bottom line of stepped-flashing, which flashing, or apron, comes down 2in. over upstand of lead or zine sque. The other lines show how steps are put in, the dots showing position of their overlaps. The steps here are, therefore, each 1ft. 3in. leng, 8in. deep at Aprit 5, 1872, deeper end, and 3in. deep at other end. The dif- ference between Sin. and 3in. is 5in.; the half of din, is 24in. ; therefore, add 2}in. to 3in, which gives odin, for the medium height of step; multiply 1ft. 3in. by 5hin. and the product is the measurement of step. Trusting this will serve your correspon- dent ‘‘B. R. C.’—I am, &e., PLUMBER. STONE AND ITS SELECTION. Srr,—Having read the letters of Mr. Weddle and an ‘Amateur’ on this subject, published in your paper, will you allow me to offer a few re- merks from a_ stone merchant's point of view ? “Ah!” exclaims some, ‘now for a one-sided view or the advocacy of some pet quarry or quarries in which ‘Stone Merchant’ is interested.” ‘Talking shop,” says another. ‘Cannot divest himself of his prejudices,” says a third, &c. To all of whom I say, ‘Patience, dear sirs, look at the matter ealmly and judge for yourselves ; accept that which commends itself to your judgment, and reject that which is false or spurious.” I submit this is a sub- ject of which the experienced stone merchant or stone mason, if he is an observant man of fair average ability, is the best judge. This follows from the very nature of the case; the one working day by day upon all kinds and varieties of stone, and comparing one with another, rarely fails in his judgment when honestly given. Why, sir, I have known some masons you might blindfold, put a mallet and tool in their hands, let them then try stones, and they would tell you (and correctly too) which were the best and most endur- ing. A few. days ago, when about to test the breaking weight of four slabs, all different kinds of stone, an intelligent mason tried his tool upon them, and be- fore the weights were put on, told, and told cor- rectly, which would carry the most, although three out of the four he had never seen before. On the other hand, a stone merchant (supposing him not to be otherwise educated for his business) is continually called upon to observe and judge diffe- rent stones, visit quarry after quarry, and if he is of ordinary intelligence, must perforce become a judge of which stones are good and will stand the weather, and which will not. ““ How comes it to pass,” the public may ask, “ if the intelligent stonemason can tell us a good stone from a bad one, and if the stone merchants know which is which, as you say they do, why do they sell us stone that will not stand? We pay for the best stone—why do we not get what we pay for?” Ah! there’s therub, do you pay for it? Does the public pay for best stone? I trow not. Why is the grocer obliged to sell chicory—the publican to em- ploy the“ doctor’ ? Because the public will have it so. What man in buying a coat or a cigar ever thinks that he can buy the best cloth or the best cigar at the price of inferior ones? The keen competition of the present day has the effect of reducing all stones of the same quarry and the quarries of one district comparatively to one price, but more of this anon. Most quarries produce good and also inferior stone. Quarries in the same districts do not produce stone all equally good, yet, practically, all are sold at the same price. For instance, the quarry owners of a large district in Yorkshire have within the last few days met and agreed to charge a uniform price for stone from their respective quarries, although to the most casual observer there is a marked difference in quality, some quarries producing stone inferior to the others. The quarryman cannot afford to throw his inferior stone away. and unless the public will pay forselection, good and bad, or inferior, are sold together. There aresome exceptions to this rule, where the quarrymen send away their best stone only and charge a commensurate price, the resalt being that their stone usually stands well, in illustra- stration of which I may name the proprietor of the Red Mansfield Quarries. Mr. Weddle, in his letter, states that the white Mansfield is decaying at Mansfield (he might seemany stones perishing where raised), and names the clay marks or holes in it. ‘The middle bed of the white Mansfield stone is inferior to the deep bed, and will not stand so wellas a weather stone, and, therefore, is usually cut up into steps and paving slabs. Mr. Weddle also states that his attention was called to the subject of the decay of stone by observing stone perish in a church spire, and he also incidentally states that he has found stones of same class or quarry to be inferior to each other. A The question of good and inferior stones in the same quarry has been well pointed out by Mr. William Cross, of the Prince Consort's memorial, in his pamphlet on the ‘Decay of Stone in Public Buildings.” I will not, therefore, go to any length here, but for the information of those who haye not