Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/532

 510 THE BUILDING NEWS. JuNE 21, 1872. ing shaft of the Sacristy may be seen outside the church from the enclosed green. This room appears to have been divided by a longitudinal wall, and was approached by two Decorated doorways in the east wall of the transept, which open into a gallery or vestibule. Over this narrow interspace was a wall passage, below the triforium windows, which must haye communicated with the Dormitory: it ean be traced also along the south wall of the Presbytery aisle, in a double thickness of construc- tion, to a staircase still remaining in part, and once connected with a turret, the base of which exists immediately outside the Wallingford chantry door. The latter [like the adjacent screens of late Perpen dicular date] has a beautiful pattern in the spandrils —IHS and XPus among thorns. The formation of this remarkable passage no doubt caused the dis- turbance of the inner wall of the aisle, which now shows two stages of Norman building, and a Pointed arch-head. The altars of S. Stephen and S. John must have stood, one in the wall-space between the doors, and the other at the north-east side, unless, as I hinted, the former was in the Sacristy. An image of S. Mary or Mariola stood fronting a pit or grave, recently opened, which is paved with encaustic tile, and was used for heart burial, as is said, in the case of Abbot Roger de Norton. Eastward of the Sacristy was the Cemetery. A triple canopied recess on the south side of the Presbytery (which is enclosed ,with solid arcaded walls resembling the arrangement of Christchurch, Hants, and Rochester Cathedral) was probably used for the exhibition of the reliquaries on great festivals. Itstands immediately over an Early English doorway. Under the eastern arch of the lantern was a second roodscreen, distinguished, as at Durham, by a Black Rood; in front of it stood, as at Westminster, a Matin altar. The end of the beam until recently remained in the south wall. In the south aisle open screens parted off two small external chapels, which are of rare occurence in England, and a large arch opened into the Sacristy. A vestry on the north side of the church corresponded to it in position, and the site is now marked by the blank wall, which formed its south side. Metal screen work enclosed the Chapel of the Protomartyr. The lateral doors in Wheathampstead’s sereen were used by the boys who carried the Gospel lights to pass inside, and there kindle their tapers. The shrine itself had an eltar at its west end, as at Westminster, and in all similar positions; it was flanked, as at Worcester, by lateral altars. In the processional path, a second shrine, that of S. Amphibalus (in lieu of an altar formerly in the nave and at one time under the roodscreen), occupied the central space, similarly “accosted” by two altars. It was erected of white stone, richly carved by Ralph Whitchurch, the sacrist; his initials still remain. Its face was adorned with images and plates of metal (1349-96). The shrine is being reconstructed, with indomitable patience, by the clerk of the works, from fragments found in a wall which barbarously shut off the procession-path. The ceiling overhead was painted with the Assumption of the Virgin. The earliest shrine of S. Alban, which was port- able, is mentioned in the twelfth century. In the year 1257 his grave was found during the repairs of the eastern part of the church between S. Oswin’s Altar, where the matin mass was sung, and §. Wolstan’s Altar; and there was placed the old painted shrine and a marble tomb with pillars of the same material. Until Wheathampstead built the present reredos, the image of 8S. Alban was a con- spicuous object over the high altar. An ancient legend related that whilst his shrine lay over S. Oswin’s Altar, he appeared issuing from his feretory, and, standing before the high altar—‘ that is, his own”—said, ‘‘ Here I rest :” and then the shrine was removed from the wall and set up in the midst of the church in front of the celebrant at the high altar, at the close of the twelfth century. Early in the thirteenth century a beam, adorned with the history of the Saint, the twelve Patriarchs, the Apostles, a Majesty, the Church and Synagogue, and other ‘‘sumptuous erections,” added dignity to the shrine; and in 1308 a marble tomb and shrine were built by Abbot de Marins, and 160 marks were spent. Several years later splendid jewels were added ; the cresting of the inner shrine wa3 enriched with a golden eagle, and finally a beautiful table (either a frontal or reredos) of precious metal was added. In the upper shrine were the bones of the “ glorious Martyr” and the dust wherein they had rested. The ornaments or “garnishing” of the shrine were a cresting, surmounted with an eagle of gold and silver ; a tower of the same materials, used as amon- strance (with the resurrection, the two angels, and four warders, wrought upon it), and two suns, with rays of precious metals tipped with jewels; one of gold holding a number of relics; these suns stood on reworked. marble, except the groinings of the inner arcade, which is of clunch, and richly painted and giltt the ‘chest of the shrine.” Cloth of gold or pall of silk was laid upon the shrine when carried in procession. The upper shrine or actual bier was the portable cista or coffin; the basement consists of a marble tomb with three lozenge-shaped perfo- rations pierced in the quatrefoils for introspection ; or, perhaps, the admission of a maimed or diseased limb, or a towel, to touch some precious relic sup- posed to possess healing properties. It is surmounted by an open arcading, probably used for the exposition of relics and offerings to the saint. The nearest approach in point of resemblance to this shrine is made by that of S. Thomas Cantelupe, at Hereford. The portable shrine had the acts of the saint wrought upon the sides, with the Rood Mary and John on the west, and S. Mary and the Holy Child on the east end, and four towers at the angles. The present cresting or brattishing of theshrine is apparently of earlier date than the lower portion, and has been, it would seem, The material of the structure is Purbeck Between the pedimental canopies there are figures of King Offa holding the church, a king seated with a spear in his hand, a bishop, an act of martyrdom, and the decollation of S. Alban. Six detached twisted pillars once stood at the sides of the tomb, and, probably, held tapers which were ordered at this precise number to be lighted on the chief festivals by Abbot William of ‘Trumpington, 1214-38. The portion of the shrine now remaining, is 9ft. high, and 8ft. Gin. in length. I have merely selected a few leading points from the observations which I lately made, vivd voce, before the Society of Antiquaries. It is high time that two improvements should be carried out—one the closing of the indecent public thoroughfare across the processional path, worthy of the days of Paul’s- walk, and a disgrace to the town ; the second is the recovery of the site of the north alley of the cloister from its present condition of an inaccessible vege- table garden. A. High Altar P. §. Thomas Ap. B. §. Albans Q. 8. Stephen C. Matin Altar R. 8. John the Eyange- D. S. Wolstan list BE. 8. Amphibalus 8. 8S. Cross and Amphi- Fr. §. Edmund balus G. S. Peter T. S. Mary &the Angels H. S. Michael and §.|U. 8. Thomas. Oswyn Katharine and M. M. I. §S. Mary of the IV|V. S. Benedict and Con- Tapers fessors J. S. Mary W. S. Mary at Pillar K. §. Saviour 2 L. S§. Blaize Ye M. 8. Lawrence Z. N. 8S. Rhadegund a. O. §. Osyth and a third figure —I am, &e., Mackenzie E. C. WAtcorr. 58, Belgrave-road, S.W. P.S.—The annual meeting of the S. Alban’s Archeological Society takes place on June 27th, when a paper will be read on the ‘Shrines and Altars,” and a lecture given by Mr. Gilbert Scott. 8. Richard’s Image 5. Thomas M. 8. Katharine Two barefooted saints CAPTAIN SEDDON’S PAPER MATERIALS. S1r,—Captain Seddon, R.E., deserves the thanks of the profession for his very interesting paper, and I do not wish to detract from its value in the least ; but I still think that for girders which admit of a constant being obtained by experiment, the formula he proposes has no advantage over that which he condemns, although I would not claim for the latter more than it deserves. ‘This may be shown more clearly by expressing both formule in the same terms, and arranging them as follows— Hurst aS Cc ad Captain Seddon ie ad aS which differ only in the “4 f” of the latter being substituted for ‘‘C” in the former, ‘‘C” represent ing a constant number obtained by breaking similar girders—a process which takes into account even the ductility of the iron, as well as all imperfections in- volved in the construction of the girder, and which process might be repeated for various classes of iron; while “4 f” in Captain Seddon’s formula represents merely four times the tensile strength ascertained by the breaking of specimens of the iron, or, as Captain Seddon has put it, “ the limit- ing stress in tons per square inch,” a value which in the present state of our knowledge is only conven- tional. Both formule were fully investigated 25 years ago, during the consideration of the projects ON TESTING for the Britannia and Conway Bridges, and those who wish to pursue the subject further cannot do better than refer to the descriptions of these bridges by Messrs. Clark & Fairbairn. As regards my handbook, I am well aware of its imperfections, and have been for some time engaged in preparing a completely revised edition. was thoroughly revised last year, and, to my mind at least, it leaves very little to be desired as an engineer’s pocket-book,—I am, &c., Mr. Molesworth’s book J. T, Hurst. COMPETITIONS. Sir,—Your—I may say our—vyilla and mansion competitions appear to have been model competi- tions, the existence of Mr. Norman MacLaren’s— or Mr. James Shaw’s—design “to the contrary not- withstanding.” venience and pleasure, another competition be organised, say for a small hotel, town hall, or a school building.—Yours, &c., May I suggest, that at your con- OnE or THE HuNDRED. [By all means. As schools are much talked about just now, let us have a school planning competition, and let it be £10 10s. for best plan, and £5 5s. for second best plan. early number of the Burtprnc News. In the mean- time we should be glad of any hints and suggestions as to the competition.—Ep. ] We will give conditions in an “TO ARCHITECTS OF THE GOTHIC SCHOOL.” Str,—A circular has lately come into my hands which, I think, deserves a wider publicity than it is likely to receive, and I ask permission to draw the attention of the public to it through your columns. It is addressed ‘To architects of the Gothic school,” and intimates that a freeholder, who has some valuable building plots to let, ‘‘is anxious to secure the best’ Gothic designs possible by the use of plain and honest materials, and yet that such designs shall be different from what already exist in his neighbourhood.” I should have imagined that nothing would be easier than to obtain such designs, but it would appear that the advertiser’s wants are complicated by reason of his anxiety “that his ground should be speedily covered.” He puts that last, as Dogberry would say, but it is evident that this consideration operates quite as forcibly with him as his desire for the diffusion of Gothic art. “This,” we are told, “is a good opportunity to architects of known ability, and who have the command of capital. There are builders ready to commence the erection of houses if liberal advances can be had. Buildings are already erected in the neighbourhood, designed by some of the leading architects of the day, and other important works were about to be commenced under one of our greatest Gothic architects, who has hitherto designed no buildings there.” The situation of this Gothic Goshen is not specified, but it would be only a kindness to some architects without capital if the advertiser would reveal the whereabouts of this happy vale. Its educational value must be con- siderable. Can it be in the neighbourhood of the Law Courts? ‘The proposed works,” we are in- formed in continuation, “if carried out in good taste and with judgment as to construction, arrangement, and cost, would be certain to be a remunerative and safe investment, and lead to in- creased work for the architect here and elsewhere.” “Here be truths.” Nothing more is required than taste, judgment, and discretion, to ensure success ! This production concludes with a nota bene to the effect that the circular has been sent to a limited number of architects, and to no one who is known to have designed any buildings in the immediate locality.—I am, &c., x ees TAKING OUT QUANTITIES IN SCOTLAND. Srr,—Having sometimes seen in the BurLpinG News articles “on the taking out of quantities,” and reference made to the Scottish mode of esti- mating the cost of work both before and after execu- tion, I have taken the liberty of sending to you some “schedules” illustrative of that method as practised in Glasgow, and I now follow them with some explanatory notes. With us the general plans, or, as we call them “working drawings,” are commonly drawn to a scale of 1Jin., or 2in. to 10ft. These are all that are usually put into the hands of the surveyor, or ‘‘measurer,” as he is called with us, and from these and a few brief jottings of particular sizes or other specialities, he has to prepare his schedules. ‘When I was serving my apprenticeship—about five-and- twenty years ago—it was customary for the archi- tect to prepare a “specification” for each artificer’s .