376 THE BUILDING NEWS. May 10, 1872. —————————————————————EOEOEOEeEeEOEEEEeEOEEEEEe CRAGSIDE—THE COUNTRY RESIDENCE OF SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, Epes subject of our principal illustration this week is from a drawing, now exhibiting in the Royal Academy, of Cragside, in Northumberland, the country residence of Sir William G. Armstrong. It is grandly situated on the side of a rocky hill about one mile from Rothbury. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the surroundings, varying from a rich dell in the bottom of the valley, filled with every variety of rare tree and shrub, all in full vigour, up to the boldest rocks and moorland on the hill top. Ashooting- box was built here a few years ago, but as it soon proved far too sirall, the present works were com- menced about two years ago. A wing was first added, of which the large bay window, with balcony and high roof, shown in our view, forms a part. This contains large reception rooms, with two floors of bedrooms over, and a complete system of baths in the basement. The library and dining-rooms are each large and lofty, and in their finishings are exceptionally rich. The former has a very elaborate ceiling of oak, inlaid with walnut, and farther enriched with carving, and a frieze of fruits and flowers painted on a gold ground. The room. is panelled with walnut, and fitted with dwarf bookeases all round. The chimney- piece is of the finest Egyptian onyx, set in a frame- work of Emperor’s red marble, and was made by Forsyth. The grate was supplied by Messrs. Benham & Son, andis from a design, by Mr. Stevens, of singular splendour and originality. The upper parts of the windows are filled with stained glass by Messrs. Morris & Co., and consist of the “ Story of S. George and the Dragon,” and several figures of poets. In the dining-room is a large ingle-nook surround- ing the fireplace, of which a drawing is exhibited (No. 1219), and which is very rich in marbles, carv- ing, and stained glass. This room is also panelled with oak, the top row of panels carved by Forsyth, with fruits and flowers. The ceiling is of oak, formed with massive beams and moulded joists. The tower shown in our view (a bird's-eye view of the upper part of which is exhibited: No. 1219) is in course of erection, and will soon be complete Considerable additions are also in progress at the rear, which are not shown in our view. In the basement is a powerful and ingeniously - devised heating apparatus, for warming the whole house generally, and each of the principal rooms separately. It is worked by a small hydraulic engine, and only requires attention once in twenty-four hours. It is capable of the nicest adjustment, and can be worked at any speed, sometimes so slow as just to keep the water flowing in the pipes, and at others so as to obtain the full heating power. The whole of the works have been carried out by Sir William Arm- strong’s own workmen, and to a large extent under his own immediate superintendence and that of his agent, Mr. Bertram. Mr. Norman Shaw is the architect of the building, and the author of the illus- tration, which we have endeavoured, though not very successfully, to reproduce by photo-lithography. All who admire rich architecture and splendid draw- ing should see the original in the Royal Academy. We hope, before long, to give some more specimens of Mr, Shaw’s masterly work. ——_—_—_——_-. OBITUARY. ITH regret we record the death of Mr. John Ambrose, senior partner of the firm of Messrs. Ambrose & Snell, architects, of Plymouth, which took place on the 3rd inst., at the compara- tively early age of fifty-three. Mr. Ambrose was a gentleman well known and much respected in the locality he had resided in all his life. He was a native of Plymouth. He has long been in affluent circumstances, and his great liberality and generosity were proverbial. Of his later works the best known are the Baptist Chapel, Mutley Plain, Plymouth, a building erected some four years ago at a cost of about £8,000; King-street Chapel in the same town, and the restoration of S.S. Nicholas and Faith Church, Saltash, Cornwall. Mr. Ambrose has done much towards making a stand, for the last few years, against the “compo.” rage, which for so long
a time had a thorough hold in Plymouth. His row of shops and houses, in Old Town-street, as well as in Edgcumbe-street, of brick and stone, are very suggestive, and will long remain excellent examples of what may be done in domestic architecture with those materials. For some time he has been in de- clining health, and two years ago undertook a journey—at his physician’s suggestion—to the Holy Land, but although he derived some benefit from the change, he has never been strong since, and on the third day of the present month he gently sank into his rest. On the 1st inst., at the Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, died Mr. John Shapcott, mason, aged sixty-one years. A native of Exeter, he went to London after serving his apprenticeship, and for twenty years was foreman to Sir Richard West- macott, R.A., the celebrated sculptor, and for his son, Mr. Richard Westmacott, R.A., F.R.S., whose death, at the age of seventy-four, was recorded in these columns in our issue of April 26. As foreman he superintended the execution of the sculpture at the Royal Exchange, and, travelling in the capacity of representative of those eminent sculptors, he superin- tended the erection and fixing of their works in all parts of England for a number of years. For the last sixteen years he has been with Messrs. Stephens. He was engaged, under the direction of Mr. Stephens. A.R.A., for more than a year in the restoration of the well-known Courtenay monument in the south transept of Exeter Cathedral, and he it was who cast the face of the late Mr. Denham, the philan- thropist, whilst that gentleman lay in his coffin; from this cast the marble figure, raised by public subscription, and now lending grace to the Exonian promenade known as Northernhay, was carved. Mr. Shapcott was also for many months engaged in taking a cast of the celebrated and very interesting minstrels’ gallery in Exeter Cathedral. He has left a widow in needy circumstances to mourn his loss. Exeter. Ju Va ——— ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. HE annual meeting of the members of the Institute was held on Monday last. The Report of the Council referred to the progress of the society (which had added to its members during the past year), and to the deaths of members which had taken place, including the names of Sir James Pennethorne, J. Spencer-Bell, Henry Ashton, J. Charlesworth, of Manchester, and W. J. Boeth, of Torquay. The report speaks at length of the General Conference of Architects which was held last year. It says:—“ This scheme, which had originated in a suggestion made by the Architectural Alliance, was, after some preliminary discussion by the Council, referred to a special committee, who prepared a programme of proceedings and directed its management. Members of every architectural society throughout the kingdom were invited to attend, and delegates were specially appointed to represent each society officially. The Conference was divided into sectional meetings, devoted respec- tively to professional practice and education, art and archeology, construction and science. Under these several heads many interesting papers were read, and elicited considerable discussion, forming material for the report since published and issued to members of the Institute. In the interval between these meet- ings, arrangements were made for visits to some of the principal buildings in London, An exhibition of practical drawings was opened, and a public dinner, held in connection with the Conference, under the presidency of Mr. Thomas H. Wyatt, was nume- rously attended. “But the most valuable result of the Conference was a series of resolutions passed at the final meet- ing, by which attention was called to three impor- tant subjects—viz: ‘ Professional Charges,” Archi- tectural Competitions,” and the ‘“ Employment of Surveyors.” In order to ensure thorough considera- tion of these matters, three special committees were appointed, and requested to take such steps as they might think fit for the purpose of obtaining the opinion, not only of members of the Institute, but of the profession at large, on the points under dis- cussion. This suggestion has been promptly and efficiently carried out by the committees referred to. Aided by their respective Honorary Secretaries, they have succeeded in collecting a mass of valuable information, which, when duly digested, will form, in each case, the basis of a Report to be submitted to the Council, and subsequently brought before a Special General Meeting, previous to its being dis- cussed at the next Conference, in June, “Considered as an experiment, the Conference scheme appears to promise success. The Council feel that the aim of the Institute should be to repre-
sent thoroughly, and in every sense of the word, the interests of architecture as a profession, as well as an art; and they trust that the measures which, with that end in view, they have adopted, though at present but tentative, will ultimately tend towards that result. ‘““ Another question raised during the late Confe- rence was that of professional education, but this being obviously associated with the Voluntary Architec- tural Examination Scheme, was referred to the exami- nation committee. In regard to this matter it will be remembered that the president, in his opening ad- dress for the present session, remarked that, for the sake of convenience and for other reasons, it would be desirable that the Conference and the Examination should be held in alternate years. The Council, ap- proving the suggestion, were prepared to postpone the Examination until 1873, especially as the Examination rules were still undergoing revision. But objections were raised to this proposal. Many candidates, it was said, had prepared themselves for the examination, and would be disappointed at its postponement. “The Council yielded to these representations, but the result cannot be considered encouraging. Five candidates only have sent in applications to be examined in the preliminary class, and but one in the class of proficiency. It would seem from these facts that a biennial examination would be at present all-suflicient for the purpose.” The report alludes to the Headings for Conditions of Contract settled in 1870 between the Council of the Institute and the London Builders’ Society; to the International Competition for a new Parliament House at Berlin; to the Royal Gold Medal of the Institute, which had been awarded to Professor Schmidt, ‘of Vienna; to Mr. Peek’s prizes, which had been awarded to T. E. C. Streatfeild and Philip J- Marvin; to the prizes offered by the Institute; to theexaminations of surveyors under the Metropolitan Building Act; to the Palestine Exploration Fund ; to the Annual Conversazioné ; and to the Sessional Papers read before the Institute. These papers were = “The Decoration of S. Paul’s Cathedral,” by F. C. Penrose, M.A., .Fellow. ‘The Use of Portland Cement Concrete as a Buiiding Material,” by T. H. Wonnacott, Associate. ‘*On the Architecture of the Cistercians,” by E. Sharpe, M.A., Fellow. ‘‘ Opening Address for the Session 1871-72,” by the President (Thomas H. Wyatt, Esq.). ‘On the Revival of Gothie Architecture in Germany and Holland,” by W. H. Brewer, Esq. ‘‘ On the Bridges of London,” by Henry Carr, C.E. ‘A Biographical Notice of the late Sir James Pennethorne, Fellow,’ by A. Cates, Associate. ‘On the Travelling Stage used in the Erection of the Roof over S. Pancras Station,” by Sir John G. Alleyne, Bart. ‘On the Construe- tion of the Albert Hall,” by Major-General Scott, C.B., &e. ‘On the Construction and Arrangement of a Brewery,” by G. Scamell, jun., Associate. “Practical Hints on House Building,” by E. Roberts, F.S.A., Fellow. ‘A Short Biogra- phical Notice of the late Edward Walters, Architect, of Manchester,” by Edward I’Anson, Vice-President. ‘On the Fall of the Brick Dome of the Koltovskoie Church at S. Petersburg,” being a communication from M. Bernhard, Architect of S. Petersburg,” by Wyatt Papworth, Fellow. ‘On Eastbury Manor House,” by T. E. C. Streatfeild. “On the Convent Gateway, Barking.” by P. J. Marvin; and ‘On the Nature and Method of Testing the Strength of Building Materials,” by Captain Seddon, R.E. ———__>————_. HUDDERSFIELD SCHOOLS COMPETITION. T the usual fortnightly meeting of the Hud- dersfield School] Board, held on Monday after- noon last, the minutes of a special meeting of the Board, held on the 27th of April, with a view of selecting designs for School Board schools, were read, which stated that it was resolved “that, as none of the plans approved by the Board in com- mittee can, as the Board are advised, be executed for a sum of about £2,500, the Board feel that they’ cannot proceed to allot either of the prizes offered ; but that the Board selected ‘‘ Lucidus Ordo” as an architect for one of the schools proposed to be erected.” It was also resolved that the Finance Committee take the whole matter into their con- sideration, and communicate with ** Lucidus Ordo” (Mr. C. Fowler, Leeds), requesting him to furnish the Board with a new design for a school to accom- modate 800 children ; and that, after the design had been received, the committee be empowered to in- struct some competent person to estimate the cost of the building on the new plan, and then report the whole matter to the Board. The minutes were confirmed.
