Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/84

 68 THE BUILDING NEWS. provided with a copper lightning conductor terminat- ing in the ground in the usual manner. In close proximity to the conductor, and parallel with it, the wire rope descended, from near the top of the chimney, for a distance of 100ft., and was finally secured to an iron bolt inserted in the chimney about 10ft. from the ground. During a thunderstorm which oceurred soon after the telegraph wire was fixed, the lightning descended the wire rope, and instead of discharging itself upon the neighbouring lightning conductor, darted through the air for a distance of 16ft. to a gas meter in the cellar of an adjoining cotton warehouse, where it fused the lead pipe connections and ignited the gas. That the discharge had really passed between the end of the wire rope and the lead pipe connections was abundantly evident from the marks made on the chimney by the fusion and volatilisation of the end of the wire rope, and by the fusion of the lead pipe. As the accident occurred in the daytime, the fire was soon detected, and promptly extinguished. Another and equally instructive instance of the inductive influence of gas pipes in determining the direction of the lightning discharge occurred in the summer of 1863 at S. Paul’s Church, Kersal Moor, during divine service. To the outside of the spire and tower of this church a copper lightning conduc- tor was fixed, the lower extremity of which was extended under the soil for a distance of about 20ft. The lightning descended this conductor, but instead of passing into the earth by the path provided for it struck through the side of the tower to a small gas pipe fixed to the inner wall. The point at which the lightning left the conductor was about 5ft. above the level of the ground, and the thickness of the wall pierced was about 4ft.; but beyond the fracture of one of the outer stones of the wall, and the shattering of the plaster near the gas pipe, the build- ing sustained no injury. That the direction of the electric discharge had, in this case, been determined by the gas pipes which passed under the floor of the church, was evident from the fact that the watches of several members of the congregation who were seated in the vicinity of the gas mains were so strongly magnetised as to be rendered unserviceable. The church at Crumpsall is about a mile distant from that at Kersal Moor, and the ignition of the gas by lightning, which undoubtedly caused its destruction, is not so distinctly traceable as it is in other cases which have come under my observation, because the evidences of the passage of the electric discharge have been obliterated by the fire. From information, however, communicated to me by the clerk in charge of the building, as to the arrange- ment of the gas pipes, the most probable course of the electric discharge was ultimately found. The church is provided with a copper lightning conductor, which descends outside the spire and tower as far as the level of the roof. The conductor then enters a large iron down-spout, and from thence is carried into the same drain as that in which the spout cischargesitself. Immediately under the roof of the nave, and against the wall, a line of iron gas pipe extended parallel with the horizontal lead gut- ter which conveyed the water from the roof to the Iron spout in which the conductor was enclosed. This line of gas-piping, though not in use for some time previous to the fire, was in contact with the pipes connected with the meter in the vestry, where the fire originated, and was not more than three feet distant from the lead gutter on the roof. As no indications of the electric discharge having taken place through the masonry were found, «as in the case of the church at Kersal Moor, it seems highly probable that the lightning left the conductor at the point where the latter entered the iron spout, and by traversing the space between the leaden gutter and the line of gas-piping in the roof, found a more easy path to the earth by the gas mains than was pro- vided for it in the drain. In my experiments on the electrical condition of the terrestrial globe* I have already directed atten- tion to the powerful influence which lines of metal extended in contact with moist ground, exercise in promoting the discharge of electric currents of com- paratively low tension into the earth’s substance, and also that the amount of the discharge from an electro-motor into the earth increases conjointly with the tension of the current and the length of the conductor extended in contact with the earth. It is not, therefore, surprising that atmospheric electricity of a tension sufficient to strike through a stratum of air several hundred yards thickj should find an easier path to the earth by leaping from a lightning conductor through a few feet of air or stone toa great system of gas and water mains, extending in large towns for miles, than by the short line of metal extended in the ground which forms the usual ter- mination of a lightning conductor. It deserves to be noticed that in the cases of light- ning discharge which I have cited, the lightning con- ductors acted efficiently in protecting the buildings from damage of a mechanical nature—the trifling injury to the church tower at Kersal Moor being directly attributable to the presence of the gas pipe in proximity to the conductor. Nor would there have been any danger from fire by the ignition of the gas if all the pipes used in the interior of the build- ings had been made of iron or brass instead of lead, for all the cases of the ignition of gas by lightning, which have come under my observation, have been brought about by the fusion of lead pipes in the line of discharge. The substitution of brass and iron, wherever lead is used in the construction of gas ap- paratus, would, however, be attended with great in- convenience and expense, and moreover, would not avert other dangers incident to the disruptive discharge from the conductor to the gas and water pipes within a building. I have there- fore recommended that in all cases where lightning conductors are attached to buildings, fitted up with gas and water pipes, the lower extremity of the lightning conductor should be bound in good metallic contact with one or other of such pipes outside the building. By attending to this precau- tion, the disruptive discharge between the lighting conductor and the gas and water pipes is prevented, and the fusible metal pipes in the interior of the building are placed out of the influence of the light- ning discharge. Objections have been raised by some corporations to the establishment of metallic connection between lightning conductors and gas mains, on the ground that damage might arise from ignition and explosion. These objects are most irrational, as gas will not ignite and explode unless mixed with atmospheric air, and the passage of lightning along continuous metallic conductors will not ignite gas even when mixed with air. Moreover, in every case of theignition of gas by lightning, the discharge is actually transmitted along the mains, such objections notwithstanding. A grave responsibility therefore rests upon those, who, after introducing a source of danger into a building, raise obstacles to the adoption of measures for averting this danger. —— es CHRISTCHURCH NATIONAL SCHOOLS, BATTERSEA. Fe’ suburban parishes have been the scene of more extensive building operations than Battersea, owing to the rapid increase of its popula- tion, the great convenience of its many means of communication with town, by road, river, and railway, and the beauty of its public park. Several districts have been formed within the parish, the schools belonging to one of which we now illustrate, S. John’s was the next district reserved, and the church and parsonage, designed by Mr. E. C. Robins were soon followed by schools by Mr. Page, and a Chapel of Ease by Mr. Coe, on S. John’s-hill. S. Saviour’s is the latest apportionment, and the church was designed by Mr. E. C. Robins, and an in- terior view appeared in the Bur~pine News in 1869. The Nonconformists have also been busy, and among other works, the New Battersea Chapel, designed by Mr. E. C. Robins, was illustrated in our journal in March, 1870. The schools in question have been erected some few years, at the instance of the late incumbent, the Rey. Samuel Bardsley, and provide accommodation for 600 children ; 200 boys, 200 girls, and 200 in- fants. Each school has a separate playground, distinct entrance lobbies, and class-rooms. The cost of the school was at the rate of £4 per head. Residences for the master and mistresses were added, and the total cost, including half an acre of land, the architect's commission, clerk of works’ salary, and all expenses, amounted to £4,500. Of this sum £722 was granted by the Government, £465 by the Surrey Church Association, £220 by the National Society, and £50 by the Cholmondeley Fund, the remainder being locally subscribed. The building is designed in the Early English style, and is faced with red bricks and covered with Bath stone dressings, the roof being covered by Taylor’s tiles. It is well warmed by Captain Galton’s barrack stoves, and efficiently ventilated. The architect is Mr. E. C. Robins, of 16, Southamp- ton-street, Strand, who was also the architect of the Wandsworth British Schools, and the builders of both of these schouls were Messrs. Lathey Bros., of Battersea-fields, THE POST-OFFICE AND THE “BUILDING NEWS.” ess week the Post-office authoritiesat S. Mar- tin’s-le-Grand, in the plenitade of their power, delayed sending the Burnprna News to our subscri- bers for twenty-four hours or more, and then caused. each subscriber who is supplied through the post to pay a penny extra for postage, saying on the wrapper, ‘‘contrary to regulations.” We wrote on Monday morning asking wherein the BurmpinG News was last week posted contrary to regulations, as we wished to know, in order to avoid erring in a similar way in future; but up to the time of going to press we have received no reply. We suppose the reason why last week’s papers were detained and charged an extra penny each was because the words “Supplement to the Burtpinc News” were not printed on the Index, If this were the reason, then: the authorities have used the powers entrusted to them with a vengeance. But did they open every paper on which they charged the extra penny ; and if not, how did they know the Index was en— closed in each paper? Now we can prove they did not open each copy, and consequently they acted arbitrarily, if not illegally. Besides, by what right did they detain the papers twenty-four hours or more? Before offering other comments, and taking other action in the matter, as may be deemed advisable, we await the information asked foré But We suppose, as usual, we must wait at least ten days. before the letter is acknowledged, and another ten days before the explanation is vouchsafed. At all events, we shall have more to say on the subject. Se SOMPTING CHURCH, SUSSEX. pe picturesque church of Sompting figures among the few buildings now remaining which contain portions of supposed Saxon work. The destroying hand of the so-called restorer has, how-— ever, been at work within its walls and divested it of every charm that age had given, rendering it as- an art study comparatively useless. Every detail in stone has been carefully scraped in the popular “corduroy ” fashion, reducing the old masonry to- one uniform surface, utterly at variance with the picturesque ronghness of old Norman work. It appears singularly unfortunate that this mania should have been so general in Sussex, as one of the: special charms of the south-down country has been in the absolute integrity of its early Norman churches. Sufficient, of course, remains to intimate: what the buildings once were, but that is all; the feeling conveyed into the original work by its designer is for ever gone, “tooled away by an idiotic hand.” These doubtless are strong terms, but such a practice of restoration cannot be too severely pro— tested against, and I am sure those who have visited the churches of Broadwater, Steyning, Sompting, and Old Shoreham will bear me out in these remarks. As Sompting church has been described in almost every historical work on architecture yet published, a description now is unnecessary. The tower and. tower arch, too, have been generally illustrated, the former as having features peculiarly early, with “Jong and short work,” unlike that found else— where; the latter as illustrating the influence of Roman forms. Both are given in this week’s sheet of details, with portions not yet illustrated. Mavrice B. ApAms. Eee eS THE LATE MR. EDWARD WALTERS, ARCHITECT. V E announce with regret the decease of this gentleman, which took place on Monday last, after a very brief illness. Mr. Walters practised almost exclusively in Manchester and its neighbour- hood, where he designed a large number of buildings. His chief work was the Free Trade Hall in that town, which is a noble and dignified structure, although the detail is rather heavy. The interior is striking, and it has been largely followed in similar halls erected since. The commanding group of warehouses belonging to Messrs. Kershaw, Side- bottom, & Co., Messrs. J. Brown & Co., and Messrs. Jackson, with which every visitor to Man chester must be familiar, were also from his. design Mr. Walters retired from business a few years ago,~ but took great interest in his profession up to th period of his decease. He was between 64 and 63 years of age, and died unmarried. a re
 * Philosophical Magazine, August, 1868,