402 corative features is large, and we fear, unless care is taken. that the prevalent blue colour will roduce acold result. Mr. Pearson this year oes not compete with the architects who ex- hibit interiors, but sends three fine exteriors ; his S. Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, isa great church, the western gable of which is flanked by two pinnacled turrets; the nave has a fléche, and a lofty spire is included in the view. The character of the work is Early French, and the design is marked by power and breadth. Another excel- lently-executed drawing shows the tower and spire of a church at Dalton Holme : there is here a very rich belfry stage, standing on a lofty and simple tower, and crowned by a finely-proportioned spire; the whole forms a steeple of good effect, and such as one might expect from such an artist as Mr. Pearson, who has made this feature a special study. Not dissimilar-in treatment is the steeple for S. Peter’s Church, Vauxhall, also exhibited by Mr. Pearson ; but the spire is in this case enriched with surface ornament, unquestion- ably to the improvement of the effect. In many respects a strong contrast is presented to these works by Mr. Norman Shaw’s English Church at Lyons; this is the least happy of Mr. Shaw’s contributions, and shows markedly how even a very able man may fail by distributing his decoration over the whole surface he has to treat.. A tower with enormous windows dominates everything here, and though the design contains, of course, much that is beautiful, we sincerely trust it will be reconsidered. Mr. KE. F. Clarke exhibits a good interior view of the chancel of a churchat Wood Green. His exte- rior of the same building* is not so satisfactory. Mr. Hakewill exhibits a baldly-plain brick church, and Mr. Hartshorne an ambitious church design, not unlike a small cathedral. Mr. Vinall exhibits a pleasing drawing of a design for a church with a low tower and apse, of French Gothic character, but dis- figured by flying buttresses, which can hardly be required even if the massive little tower be vaulted. An honourable place among church designs ought to be given to Mr. T, H. Watson’s small but very graceful design for 8. Mary’s Church, Loughton, which, in a modest and unassuming way, admirably shows itself as what it is meant to be—namely, a simple country church, with here and therea decorative feature. Mr. Nicholl’s rich apse and sanctuary to the Church of S. Walburge, Preston, must also be named. ‘The same architect exhibits an artistic though unpre- tending lodge. Mr. Goldie contributes the interior of S$. Paul’s College Chapel, Stony Stratford, which strikes us as hardly up to Mr. Goldie’s usual level—a high one. One or two of the decorative drawings exhibited deserve attention. Mr. Seddon exhibits designs for some good stained glass, in single lights; Mr. H. J. Burrow a highly- coloured sketch for a semi-mystical subject in wall decoration, well worth attention. My. W.S. Stacey sends a very carefully drawn processional design fit for the wall of a dining-room, though intended for a side- board; and Mr. H. H. Statham a good geometrical window. Mr. George Aitchison exhibits a charac- teristic design for a house for Lord Richard Grosvenor. Nothing could well be more unlike the work of almost every other archi- tect than this design, which, though eccentric, would no doubt be satisfactory; but we con- fess we prefer the design by Mr. Hartshorne for an English country house near Paris, which has much to recommend it. Of the house designs exhibited none, however, is more successful than Mr. Somers Clarke’s large and very pic- turesque brick mansion, Wyfold Court. This is shown in an artistic drawing, and the building is marked by a fine and singular tower, connected to a very lofty
- Both exterior and interior were given in the BUILDING
News, No. 900, April 5, this year. THE BUILDING NEWS. range of office buildings. The principal entrance, also, hasa lofty tower, and is flanked by a fine semi-circular bay. The character of the work is Flemish Gothic, and the adap- tation of this style to modern requirements is singularly happy. Mr. Seddon exhibits a fine drawing of his Aberystwith University building,* already noticed by us as one of the most picturesque and wild compositions which any architect ever carried out. Mr. Talbert exhibits one of his decorative interiors, but in a drawing below his usual standard. A satisfactory domestic interior is exhibited by Mr. 8. Salter; but the drawing is “killed” by its proximity to a powerful and finely-finished study from Speke Hall, by J. Naish { (2) Nash], which represents one of the best interiors we have in an artistic and effective manner. We have left too long a reference to Mr. Horace Jones’s small drawing of a great undertaking—a proposed additional market at Smithfield—which is honest and good of its kind; the angles and entrances are well accentuated with decora- tive work, and the intervening spaces are plain, though not bold. Mr. Peck exhibits Messrs. Elkington’s new premises. Messrs. Woodzell & Coleutt send a rather striking design for the Free Library at Blackburn, and Mr. Saxon Snell the large School of the Patriotic Fund Commission. A few other designs and studies of old buildings worth notice will be found, and a few which itis a kindness to the exhibitors not to notice; but the above enumeration embraces nearly every remarkable contribution to what must be admitted to be, on the whole, a very encou- raging exhibition. ———__>__——_ COMPETITIONS. Cuester.—The design of Mr. W. Botterill, of Hull, was selected in a limited competition a short time ago for a Wesleyan Chapel to be erected on the City-road. The style adopted is the Geometric Gothic, and the design embraces a tower and spire. The contract has just been entered into with Mr. J. Stringer, of Sandbach, for £4,445 10s. The building is to be of Handbridge stone. The accommodation is for 800 persons. The contract does not include the spire, and is also exclusive of lighting and heating. New Cuurcy ar BurunpeiisAnps.—In a limited competition of local architects for this new church, the committee, after consulting with Mr. E. G. Paley, of Lancaster, have accepted the designs pre- pared by Messrs. Hay. Ross.—On Thursday week a meeting of the Guardians of Ross, Herefordshire, was held to con- sider the five plans sent in in competition for the erection of the new workhouse buildings. The design marked “Idoneum,’ by Messrs. Hadden Brothers, of Hereford, was unanimously accepted. S. Ausrett ScHoot Boarp.—At the meeting of the S. Austell School Board, on Saturday, the 11th inst., the competitive designs of Mr. Silvanus Trevail, A.A., of Par Station, were adopted for the Pentewan, and also for the town, schools. The former is to be a mixed school, to accommodate 100 children. The latter will be the central schools for the 8. Austell district, which are to provide accom- modation for 500 children, and will comprise boys’ and infants’ schools, each 60ft. xX 20ft.; girls ditto, 40ft. Gin. x 20ft.; two class-rooms and a board- room, each 20ft. square; and a teacher's residence, containing nine rooms, with all necessary entrances, offices, Ge. The designs of Messrs. Dwelly & Sons, of Plymouth, were considered to be the next in the order of merit. Tur Crorrey Town Hatt Comperrrron.— Awarp or Premtums.—The Bolton Daily Chronicle says that the Improvement Commissioners held a meeting on Monday evening, to receive the report of Mr. Paley, architect, Lancaster, as to the persons entitled to the premiums of £80, £30, and £20, for the first, second, and third best designs of the new Town Hall. A. W. Smethurst, Esq., occupied the chair. The clerk read Mr. Paley’s report, which stated that £10,000 (the sum fixed by the commis- sioners) was quite insufficient to cover an area of more than 1,500 yards with substantial and well constructed buildings, such as the commissioners might be expected to erect for the town of Chorley.
- We have given several illustrations of this building
It was to be regretted that the intending competitors did not try to get this sum increased 50 per cent. In selecting the three best plans Mr. Paley had care- fully kept in view that the award should be given, not to the finest architectural design and composition, but to the plan that shows the best appropriation of the ground, combined with the most suitable eleya- tion; in fact, the competitors who have best studied the ground and carried out the instructions, The following designs are selected as the best: “Cotton,” “To be or not to be,” “Let Chorley Flourish,” set No. 1. It was resolved to award the prizes in ac- cordance with Mr. Paley’s report, and the envelopes containing the addresses were opened. “Cotton” is designed by Messrs. Ladds & Powell, of London; the second, no address or name to be found; “ Let Chorley Flourish” is by Mr. J. J. Bradshaw, of Bolton. Worxsop.—The plans selected in open competi- tion have been approved by the Committee of Council on Education. The design for larger boys’ school is by Mr. J. F. Sinclair, of Worksop; the smaller boys’ school by Mr. H. Lovegrove, of 12, Buckingham-street, Strand, London, who is also author of selected design for girls’ school.
——<——<—$ ARCHITECTURAL & ARCHASOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. ReavinG ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAOLOGICAL Socrery.—The first excursion of this newly-formed Society took place on Wednesday afternoon, the 8th inst., when the church of 8. Andrew, at Sonning, was visited by the members and their friends. Un- fortunately the weather was unfavourable, Abeut thirty members were present, and were conducted over the church by the vicar, the Rev. H. Pearson, M.A., of whose lucid explanation of the various features of interest in the sacred edifice the following is a brief resumé. There has been a church at Sonning since the ninth century ; Saxon bishops re- sided there before A. p. 900; but no remains of Saxon, and but few of Norman, work are now in existence. The beautiful south aisle is in the Deco- rated style of the fourteenth century; the nave and chancel were built about 1400; the north aisle and north chancel aisle about 1500; and the south chancel aisle in 1620. The tower is in the Late Per- pendicular style. In the middle ages there existed at the east end of the church a chapel, dedicated to S. Sarac, which was in great repute as a place of pilgrimage for persons afflicted with madness. The most remarkable feature in the interior of the church is the richly sculptured stone arch on the north side of the sanctuary. It is thought that it may have been raised over an Baster sepulchre, or have belonged to the Chapel of S. Sarac. Many monu- ments of archzological and local interest are to be found in the church. ‘The peal of bells is a fine old one. There is an inscription on each, but one is of peculiar interest as a memento of the days of Queen Anne, when the people pressed upon her, erying, “We hope your Majesty is for God and Dr. Sacheverell.” It is ‘‘Ecclesiw, Regine, Sacheverel- lisque cano laudes,” and bears date ‘1711, R. Phelps, fecit.” A vote of thanks to the vicar was proposed by the President of the Society, Mr. Charles Smith, and seconded by the Rev. Lewin G. Maine, and the members then dispersed, many of them to take sketches, rubbings of brasses, &e. The Society, which was founded in October last, is under the patronage of the Rey. Canon Kingsley, and of Messrs. Higford Burr, 8. Aubyn, and Alfred Water- house; Mr. Fred. W. Albury is the vice-president ; and Mr. E. J. Shrewsbury, the hon. secretary. Tur Lincoun Diocesan ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY. —This Society will hold its annual general meeting this year at Holbeach, on June 5 and 6. On the former day an excursion will be made to the follow- ing churches:—Fleet, Gedney, Long Sutton, Tydd S. Mary, Sutton S. James, and Whaplode. On the second day an excursion will be’ made to Ely Cathedral. ———— At the County Petty Sessions held at Lan- caster, last week, Mr. Thomas Baynes, brick and tile manufacturer, of Caton, was charged with caus- ing a fire for burning bricks to be made within 15 yards of the carriage way in that township, on the 27th ult. The charge was fully proved, but the case was arranged by defendant agreeing to erect a wall in front of his kilns to the satisfaction of two of the magistrates. It is intended to place a new pulpit, reading desk, and lectern in the parish church of Rowde, Wilts, and also to fill three of the windows of the south aisle with stained glass, as a memorial to the late vicar, the Rey. A.B. Starky. Mr. E. 8. Harris, who ately restored the body of the church at the cost of the late vicar, will be the architect.
