Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/427

 May 17, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 405 SS eee TINTERN ABBEY. Sir,—I do not know who is answerable for the mistake, but tourists and visitors who are investi- gating the cloisters of Tintern must be warned not to trust too implicitly to some of the notice-boards which profess to give the former destination and uses of the buildings. The ‘ Almonry,” for instance, is supposed to adjoin the refectory, whereas, there can be no doubt that this chamber was occupied as the buttery ; but Iam not quite sure that it is not in- tended to explain the original object of a mass of masonry with an opening in it, sometimes boldly called a “dole window,” which was, in fact, the lavatory at the hall door with its waste pipe. The hutch of the kitchen remains in the west wall of the refectory. The great substructure of the dormitory, forming the common room of the convent, and the stairs from the former room into the church, are not Jabelled, but, with a well-meant yet mistaken kind- ness, we are informed that the whole chamber on fhe north side of the transept is a “ sacristy ;” very TINTERN ° ° ° CHAPTER HOUSE e 9 7 REFECTORY f PULPIT SAGRISTY CLOISTER GARTH THE OLD STORY. Srr,—Would that some fertile brain could devise a plan whereby merit and ability might stand a fair chance against cunning and duplicity, which, alas! are so often found in our public competitions, thus de- barring true merit and hard-earned experience from reaping their just reward. A most barefaced trans- gression against all that is fair and aboye-board has recently come under my notice, which to my mind richly deserves publicity, in order that others may escape being duped in a similar manner. Some few weeks since a premium was offered for the best design for a Primitive Methodist Chapel, to be erected ina town within thirty miles of Hull; with a stipulation that the successful competitor should carry out the design submitted by him. Some eighty designs were accordingly submitted, and it is only fair to suppose that among so large a number there were many of considerable merit. But the adjudicators seem to have totally ignored this indispensable qualification. After two or three architects refused to undertake the affair for less than 2} per cent. commission, a man is found at 2 per cent., who, previous to his début and usurping the title ‘“‘architect’’ a year or two since, probably PRESBYTERY TAIRS TO RMITORY {iiVee CHOIR RCOO LOFT possibly the eastern portion was thus alloted, but it was shut off from the western bay by a stout wall, and communicated directly with the church. This outer room, approached under a double-arched door- way, I take to have been the regular parlour. No notice is takencf the aumbry and slype on the north side of the chapter-house or of a parlour opening from the north alley. The traces of building in the Orchard, which has been called the guest-house, no doubt were those of the infirmary. It seems, from certain indications, that, as at Fountains, Beaulieu, Byland, and Netley, a narrow Galilee with a pentice fronted the west door. Northward of it was the guest-house. There is a striking correspondence between the plans of Netley, Tintern, and Boyle. They deserve to be thoroughly worked out.—I am, &e., Mackenzie E. C. Watcorr. ARCHITECTS AND THE ROYAL AGRI- CULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Srr,—Will the day ever come when public com- mittees shall offer architects as much remuneration for their services as the bricklayer’s labourer receives for his? The Royal Agricultural Society invite architects to send in designs for cottages suitable for agricultural labourers, and for the mineral districts. The prizes for each class of cottages are as follows:—Virst prize, given by the Marquis of Bute, £20; second prize, given by the Major Picton Turbervill, £10. The condition demand ‘plans, elevations, and sec- tions, with detailed plans and specifications, and a priced bill of quantities ;* also that “all plans, eleva- tions, sections, &c., must be drawn to a scale of a jin, to Lit.” Another conditions is so startling that I must beg of you to reprint it for the use of all future building com- mittees :—‘t Competitors must send an entry-fee of ten shillings with each competing design.” If the owners of the soil wish to build cottages for their retainers, surely they are rich enough to pay a few pounds as commission to a local architect ; or why not employ the village schoolmaster, or the handy man who repairs the fencing and does other odd jobs in the carpenter and joiner’s line ? The agricultural labourers are striking for more pay and less work; surely it would be well if architects would do likewise, and come to some understanding with themselves and the public as to the terms under which they are willing to compete.—I am, &c., OnE WuHo Has STRUCK. Lie 72 GALILEE never worked an hour in an architect's office in hi® life; but who, hearing of the competition, and having afew friends in connection with the affair, persuaded a young man who has seryed about four years to make him a set of drawings, and share the reward, which he seems to haye made sure of. Can no one suggest a remedy against such a procedure? You haye done much to cry down these abuses, but I am afraid that while architects consent to compete in affairs like this, it will be long before competitions are arranged in a fair, straightforward, and impartial manner.— Lam, &c., INDIGNANT OBSERVER. Kingston-upon-Hull, May 15. ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. Srr,—I shall be obliged by your allowing me to state in your columns that the discussion on Captain Seddon’s paper ‘On the Strength of Building Mate- rials” read at this Institute on the 22nd ult., has been adjourned until Monday evening the 27th inst., at eight o'clock. In connection with the subject of that paper, Mr. David Kirkealdy has kindly promised to throw open his Testing and Experimenting Works at the Grove, Southwark-street, S.E., for the inspection of members of the Institute, who will be admitted on presenting their cards between 12 and 4 p.m. on Satur- day the 25th inst.—I am, &c., Cuartes L. EastLake, Sec., F.R.1.B.A. 9, Conduit-street, Hanover-square, W., May 14. THE BUILDING TRADE. S1r,—A short time since we received circulars from the Masons’ and Joiners’ Societies, asking the conces- sion of 51 hours per week, and a rise of wages from 8d. to 9d. per hour. We considered this an unreason- able demand, and, after a conference with our men, they unanimously accepted our offer of a working week to consist of 54 hours, and wages at the rate of 83d. per hour. The joiners, masons, and metal workers in our employ have for some weeks been paid on this scale. This is a compromise which, we believe, master builders in London would willingly give, and we also believe that the large majority of the men would gladly accept similar terms, if they were allowed to do so by those who profess to represent them. The hardship and misery entailed on the working classes by these unfortunate strikes are incalculable, and we hope that the present dispute will be amicably settled without recourse being had to any extreme measures.—We are, &e., Cox & Sons, Southampton-street, Strand, May 15. HOW ARCHITECTS ARE TREATED IN THE WEST. Srr,—Will you kindly insert the following clauses, extracted from the particulars of competition for lay- ing out an estate for the Tiverton Land and Building Company, Limited ?— “To Architects.—The directors of the Tiverton Land and Building Company, Limited, are desirous of re- ceiving designs for laying out about twelve acres of land for the erection of villa residences near the town of Tiverton. A premium of £20 will be given for the most approved design, and one of £5 for the next best. The designs which obtain premiums are, with the plans, &c., to become the property of the directors, who do not bind themselves to employ any competitor to carry out or overlook the work. The designs are to comprise elevations of one or two pairs of villas, plans for each floor, transverse sections, specifications, and estimates. A tracing froma ground plan and further particulars, with conditions to be observed, may be obtained on application to the secretary.” On applying for the particulars and a tracing, from plan, I was informed by the secretary to the company that the “plans and conditions may be seen at my Office, and copies of them taken.” Of course, it is very desirable that competitors should make themselves acquainted with the site, but in this case it was un- necessary. In spite of the distance from London and the cost of travelling,I find, on referring to the Tiverton Gazette, that the plans of a London architect of eminence anda Fellow of the Society of Architects (sic) were selected. The Royal Agricultural Society impose an entrance fee of 10s. on each competitor for prizes for cottage plans. This is a more liberal offer than the one brought to your notice by ‘‘ Old Stager.” The following adver- tisement, cut from the Tiverton Gazette, may interest your readers :— “To Architects and Builders.—The parishioners of Upton, near Wiveliscombe, Somerset, are desirous of receiving plans for a school-house (to accommodate 50 children), residence, and offices. Plans to be sent to the Rey. J. Bere, Skilgate Rectory, near Wiveliscombe, on or before Ist May next, with amount of probable cost. No fees will be paid for the plans not approved of, and the parishioners do not bind themselves to accept any plan.” The profession must be ina very bad state when members are treated in such a manner by companies, boards, and societies, having men of the highest stand- ing and position as their supporters. Of what use is the Institute ?—I am, &e., Busy B. Antercommunication, QUESTIONS. (2562..—Voluntary Architectural Examina- tion.—I would be greatly obliged to any of your numerous readers who would enlighten me upon the above subject, as regards when and where they are held, what subjects the candidates are examined in, is there any limit as to age, or any other particulars in connection therewith —_CounTRY ASPIRANT. [(2563.|—Fireproof Floors.—Will some reader of your columns kindly answer the following? What system or systems of fireproof flooring haye been used in some of the large hotels connected with railway termini in London? Also, to what extent are they used, and what is the price per square ?—J. J. E. [2564.]—Practice of the Profession.—Can any of your readers inform me what is the practice of the profession in the following cases? 1. When a quan- tity surveyor has supplied quantities for a job which, the tenders having been received, is found to cost too much, and is therefore abandoned, who pays him for his labour in that case? 2. When the job goes on in part or on a reduced scale, and the original quantities are set aside, the builders tendering in the second in- stance on their own quantities or on what they can make out of the original ones, how is the said surveyor to be paid in that case—on the amount of lowest tender based on the original quantities, or on the amount of the actual work (building work, that is) carried out ?— c. C. [2565..—Mr. Hicks’s Design for Mansion — Will Mr. Hicks inform me whether the tower was omitted intentionally, or otherwise, in the longer of the two elevations given in the BurnpINnG NEws, April 27 ?—P. W. D. [2566J—Decaying Paintwork.—I painted a wall in the ordinary way, four coats, finished flatting, two anda half years ago. Some action in the lime caused the colour to fade or change very curiously. Six months since I painted this work over again, and put on some ornament in artist’s tube colour. The ground, which is again flatted, has gone completely; the orna- ment has not gone somuch. Can any one explain this, or suggest a cure ?—T. B. [2567..—Drainage of Towns.—To Mr. JoHN PuILures.—Would Mr. John Phillips inform me where his paper on the ‘Sewerage and Drainage of Towns,” read at Glasgow in February last, and referred to in reply 2539, could be had?—G, THomas. REPLIES. [2553.]—Estimating Cubical Contents of Buildings.—Measure from the bottom of the brick or stone footings to half way up the roof, and this will