Page:The first report, etc., of the Lichfield Society.djvu/25

Rh Models, Carvings and Casts of Architectural details, as far as the funds of the Society will admit."

Now, Sir, it appears to me that unless you can connect this Society with the Diocesan Church Building Society its means of usefulness will be extremely limited; for this Society should not only encourage the study of Ecclesiastical Architecture, but it should possess the power of examining designs, and of preventing those from being carried into effect that are not worthy to be classed with those ancient examples we are now anxious to follow. And again, in restorations, that it should be able to assist the Architect in removing parts, or I may say, excrescences, from the original, which subsequent periods have produced, so that the restoration, when done, may be a perfect model of the original. I will state a case where this Society might have been useful. I do not intend to cast any reflection on the Architect employed, because I believe, in the case in question, he is the mere agent to take down and rebuild good, bad, and indifferent. In the church at Bakewell, which is now undergoing extensive renovations, the South Transept was a very beautiful model of Early English, (indeed I do not know a more beautiful model) with the pointed gable, as the Tower denotes, and a groined stone roof, or an open oak roof; but in the early part of the sixteenth century the high pitched roof was removed: the external walls raised, and the flat timber roof and parapet substituted. Now, Sir, if this Society had been consulted it would have recommended the original form, namely, the pointed gable; first, because it was part of the original design; secondly, because, in a picturesque point of view, it was more beautiful: and thirdly, as a question of expense, more economical. In looking at these restorations we must have the eye of an architect, and not that of an antiquary. The antiquary, no doubt, prefers the admixture of style, so long as he can satisfactorily trace its origin, but if you remodel it he will no longer recognize it as a piece of antiquity.

This Society in the course of its usefulness must be prepared to combat strong prejudices, both with Clergymen and Architects, in matters of taste and expense. First, as to taste. Many of the Clergy, particularly the young Clergy, will all at once become architects. I say this with the most profound respect: they will study the Glossary of Architecture (a work which certainly conveys a great deal of information), Britton, Pugin, and others; and their productions will be sent forth, but without their essential parts; I mean detail and construction, which belong only to the experienced architect. Architects, too, who present plans, will maintain their own taste in opposition to any