THE BUILDING NEWS. Fes. 9, 1872
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CLAPTON PARK CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.—Mr. Henry Futter, ARCHITECT. SKY OUTLINES. 'T fs a curious and somewhat sad task to search for beauty or dignity in the sky outlines of London. If we turn our eyes upwards in almost any direction we are greeted with the strangest and most uncouth forms, generally to be found, in the most flagrant cases,above imposing fronts and orna- mented fagades. While the “front elevation” of an important building stands in all the glory of stuccoed ornament and fresh paint, above the line of cornice, and in the most prominent position, arise weird and distorted forms that seem like evil spirits hovering over the vanity beneath. It is an error to suppose that these curiosities of zinc are out of sight and escape detection; they occupy the most important places in what should be architectural composition, and stand against the fair firmament of heaven to our perpetual shame. The most aristocratic districts abound in examples ludicrous to behold, and difficult to realise, until we note down the details in a sketch. A terrace of most classic proportions and faultless symmetry, with columns and pilasters gauged to the greatest nicety, carries above it, relieved against the sky, a heterogeneous collection of pots, tall-boys, whirligigs and cowls, bent and braced in every conceivable attitude. It is amusing to note the fertility of in- vention displayed by their originators. No form, except a graceful one, is left untried. Some “ boys ” are widest at the mouth; others widest at the base, some makers adopt one idea and others take a most opposite course. The result is a medley of ugliness which we have endeavoured, without exaggeration, to indicate in our sketch. The subject is really a serious one, and demands more attention than most people seem willing to give to it. get rid of it with courtesy, and not treat it with careless scorn; the effect of such indifference to anything but direct utility, and that of the most doubtful kind,is highly prejudicial to the publie mind, and it is as much the duty of house owners to look to the appearance of their chimneys and pots, as it is for them to keep their doorsteps rubbed, or their front-doors painted. It is a question for architects to take up, and for owners of house property to meditate upon; sham frontages that hide the roof entirely, and exclude the possibility of grouping the chimneys into the
general design, are certainly not the happiest inven- tions. We are quite aware of the many difficulties in the way of reform in such matters, but we must certainly begin if we would hope to see at any future day a metropolis worthy of the name. To walk along our streets or to stroll through our squares ought to be at least not painful, and common polite- ness, or respect for others, should urge us to bestow upon our buildings an amount of grace and outline which no good wheelwright would deny to a cart. It is not lavish expenditure that we want, but com- prehensive design that does not concentrate excess of ornament on one portion, whilst other vital parts are left wholly neglected. To multiply examples would be an easy task, for we have but to walk along almost any thoroughfare to become satiated with monstrosities in zine that rear their blackened forms defiantly over all. Of what avail are vases, festoons, and balustrades, if above them such forms are allowed to rise up and mock us ? But we may be told that they are evils which we must bear with patience—that we must sacrifice all sentimental ideas about “sky outline” to the comfort of a “good drawing” flue ; but this is indeed a mistake. necessary There are a few simple rules regulating chimneys and the prevention of smoke that it may perhaps not be out of place to enumerate: 1. Chimney stacks should form teatures in archi- tectural composition : there are few portions capable of more expressive design. They should be carried out boldly, and of sufti- and, if possible, equal height. The flues should be circular in section, with care, and thoroughly pargetted. The fire-grate should have as small an aperture cient built | as possible for the escape of the smoke, with a hinged If we must have smoke, let us at least | valve capable of easy adjustment, or a revolving shutter to close neatly in front would act as an efli- cient blower in obstinate cases. The remedy frequently lies at the fireplace when Tn subject to eddy winds, if the chimneys cannot be the cure is being applied at the top. positions carried up fearlessly, surely it is possible to devise or adopt a pot or cowl the memory of which will not haunt us in our dreams! Living constantly in the midst of such things our eyes become used to these apparitions, and we quietly submit to what seems our fate; but let us not become quite hardened or re- signed to eyils that are curable! —W. H. Lockwoon. ALL SAINTS, PERRY STREET, NORTHFLEET- Tes church was commenced early in the spring of 1869,from the designs of Mr. James Brooks, of 11, Serle- street, Lincoln’s Inn. In plan, it con- sists of a nave of five bays, with entrances at the north and south-west angles respectively, spacious chancel and sanctuary, choir and priests’ vestries, and side chapel ; the latter being formed by an exter sion of the aisles on either side, with roofs of a slightly different character, and of greater height, and opening into the chancel and aisles with arches of simple and graceful character. The roofs of the naye and chancel are bold and effective ; but in this church we seem to miss the loftiness and many of the special characteristics of this architect’s later conceptions. The iconographical scheme has been carefully thought out. The two single-light windows at the west end will contain representations of the Twelve Apostles, the rose window above, the Holy Spirit,the north-west aisle window the Confirmation of the Disciples, and the south-west the Baptism of Our Lord. Beginning at the north-west corner, the aisle windows will contain incidents from the life of Our Lord—viz., the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, Life at Nazareth, the Sermon on the Mount, the Charge to S. Peter, Raising of Lazarus, Walking on the Sea, Blessing Children, and the Miracle at Cana. The clerestory windows, six in number, of two lights each, with circular piercing above, will contain— NORTH SIDE. SOUTH SIDE. es (Adam. . _ §S. Gregory. POU (Abraham. ele 1S. Augustine. (Moses. S. Barnabas. Prophets 4 Samael Apostles ‘3 Pail: (Joshua, -- 7. (Solomon. Judges (Deborah. Kings (David. The clerestory windows in the choir will be filled with representations of the Angels Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Ithuriel, and Zadkiel. The east window is devoted to All Saints in Adoration of Our Blessed Lord. The church is built of rubble stone, with Bath stone dressings and bands, and cost, exclusive of the south aisle, £2.800. The aisle was afterwards added at a cost of £500, —~.>—____ Mr. George Gilbert Scott, Jun., M.A., has been elected a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1866 as senior in the Moral Science 'Tripos.
