510 THE BUILDING NEWS. JuNE 21, 1872.
ing shaft of the Sacristy may be seen outside the
church from the enclosed green. This room appears
to have been divided by a longitudinal wall, and
was approached by two Decorated doorways in the
east wall of the transept, which open into a gallery
or vestibule. Over this narrow interspace was a
wall passage, below the triforium windows, which
must haye communicated with the Dormitory: it
ean be traced also along the south wall of the
Presbytery aisle, in a double thickness of construc-
tion, to a staircase still remaining in part, and once
connected with a turret, the base of which exists
immediately outside the Wallingford chantry door.
The latter [like the adjacent screens of late Perpen
dicular date] has a beautiful pattern in the spandrils
—IHS and XPus among thorns. The formation of
this remarkable passage no doubt caused the dis-
turbance of the inner wall of the aisle, which now
shows two stages of Norman building, and a Pointed
arch-head. The altars of S. Stephen and S. John
must have stood, one in the wall-space between the
doors, and the other at the north-east side, unless,
as I hinted, the former was in the Sacristy. An
image of S. Mary or Mariola stood fronting a pit or
grave, recently opened, which is paved with encaustic
tile, and was used for heart burial, as is said, in the
case of Abbot Roger de Norton. Eastward of the
Sacristy was the Cemetery.
A triple canopied recess on the south side of the
Presbytery (which is enclosed ,with solid arcaded
walls resembling the arrangement of Christchurch,
Hants, and Rochester Cathedral) was probably used
for the exhibition of the reliquaries on great festivals.
Itstands immediately over an Early English doorway.
Under the eastern arch of the lantern was a second
roodscreen, distinguished, as at Durham, by a Black
Rood; in front of it stood, as at Westminster, a
Matin altar. The end of the beam until recently
remained in the south wall.
In the south aisle open screens parted off two
small external chapels, which are of rare occurence
in England, and a large arch opened into the Sacristy.
A vestry on the north side of the church corresponded
to it in position, and the site is now marked by the
blank wall, which formed its south side.
Metal screen work enclosed the Chapel of the
Protomartyr. The lateral doors in Wheathampstead’s
sereen were used by the boys who carried the Gospel
lights to pass inside, and there kindle their tapers.
The shrine itself had an eltar at its west end, as at
Westminster, and in all similar positions; it was
flanked, as at Worcester, by lateral altars.
In the processional path, a second shrine, that of
S. Amphibalus (in lieu of an altar formerly in the
nave and at one time under the roodscreen), occupied
the central space, similarly “accosted” by two altars.
It was erected of white stone, richly carved by Ralph
Whitchurch, the sacrist; his initials still remain.
Its face was adorned with images and plates of
metal (1349-96). The shrine is being reconstructed,
with indomitable patience, by the clerk of the works,
from fragments found in a wall which barbarously
shut off the procession-path. The ceiling overhead
was painted with the Assumption of the Virgin.
The earliest shrine of S. Alban, which was port-
able, is mentioned in the twelfth century. In the
year 1257 his grave was found during the repairs of
the eastern part of the church between S. Oswin’s
Altar, where the matin mass was sung, and §.
Wolstan’s Altar; and there was placed the old
painted shrine and a marble tomb with pillars of the
same material. Until Wheathampstead built the
present reredos, the image of 8S. Alban was a con-
spicuous object over the high altar. An ancient
legend related that whilst his shrine lay over
S. Oswin’s Altar, he appeared issuing from his
feretory, and, standing before the high altar—‘ that
is, his own”—said, ‘‘ Here I rest :” and then the shrine
was removed from the wall and set up in the midst
of the church in front of the celebrant at the high
altar, at the close of the twelfth century. Early in
the thirteenth century a beam, adorned with the
history of the Saint, the twelve Patriarchs, the
Apostles, a Majesty, the Church and Synagogue, and
other ‘‘sumptuous erections,” added dignity to the
shrine; and in 1308 a marble tomb and shrine were
built by Abbot de Marins, and 160 marks were spent.
Several years later splendid jewels were added ; the
cresting of the inner shrine wa3 enriched with a
golden eagle, and finally a beautiful table (either
a frontal or reredos) of precious metal was added. In
the upper shrine were the bones of the “ glorious
Martyr” and the dust wherein they had rested.
The ornaments or “garnishing” of the shrine were
a cresting, surmounted with an eagle of gold and
silver ; a tower of the same materials, used as amon-
strance (with the resurrection, the two angels, and
four warders, wrought upon it), and two suns, with
rays of precious metals tipped with jewels; one of
gold holding a number of relics; these suns stood on
reworked.
marble, except the groinings of the inner arcade,
which is of clunch, and richly painted and giltt
the ‘chest of the shrine.” Cloth of gold or pall of
silk was laid upon the shrine when carried in
procession. The upper shrine or actual bier was
the portable cista or coffin; the basement consists
of a marble tomb with three lozenge-shaped perfo-
rations pierced in the quatrefoils for introspection ;
or, perhaps, the admission of a maimed or diseased
limb, or a towel, to touch some precious relic sup-
posed to possess healing properties. It is surmounted
by an open arcading, probably used for the
exposition of relics and offerings to the saint.
The nearest approach in point of resemblance
to this shrine is made by that of S. Thomas
Cantelupe, at Hereford. The portable shrine
had the acts of the saint wrought upon the
sides, with the Rood Mary and John on the west,
and S. Mary and the Holy Child on the east end,
and four towers at the angles. The present cresting
or brattishing of theshrine is apparently of earlier date
than the lower portion, and has been, it would seem,
The material of the structure is Purbeck
Between the pedimental canopies there are figures of
King Offa holding the church, a king seated with a
spear in his hand, a bishop, an act of martyrdom,
and the decollation of S. Alban.
Six detached
twisted pillars once stood at the sides of the tomb,
and, probably, held tapers which were ordered at this
precise number to be lighted on the chief festivals by
Abbot William of ‘Trumpington,
1214-38. The
portion of the shrine now remaining, is 9ft. high,
and 8ft. Gin. in length.
I have merely selected a few leading points from
the observations which I lately made, vivd voce,
before the Society of Antiquaries. It is high time that
two improvements should be carried out—one the
closing of the indecent public thoroughfare across the
processional path, worthy of the days of Paul’s-
walk, and a disgrace to the town ; the second is the
recovery of the site of the north alley of the cloister
from its present condition of an inaccessible vege-
table garden.
A. High Altar P. §. Thomas Ap.
B. §. Albans Q. 8. Stephen
C. Matin Altar R. 8. John the Eyange-
D. S. Wolstan list
BE. 8. Amphibalus 8. 8S. Cross and Amphi-
Fr. §. Edmund balus
G. S. Peter T. S. Mary &the Angels
H. S. Michael and §.|U. 8. Thomas. Oswyn
Katharine and M. M.
I. §S. Mary of the IV|V. S. Benedict and Con-
Tapers fessors
J. S. Mary W. S. Mary at Pillar
K. §. Saviour 2
L. S§. Blaize Ye
M. 8. Lawrence Z.
N. 8S. Rhadegund a.
O. §. Osyth and a third figure
—I am, &e., Mackenzie E. C. WAtcorr.
58, Belgrave-road, S.W.
P.S.—The annual meeting of the S. Alban’s
Archeological Society takes place on June 27th,
when a paper will be read on the ‘Shrines and
Altars,” and a lecture given by Mr. Gilbert Scott.
8. Richard’s Image
5. Thomas M.
8. Katharine
Two barefooted saints
CAPTAIN SEDDON’S PAPER
MATERIALS.
S1r,—Captain Seddon, R.E., deserves the thanks
of the profession for his very interesting paper, and
I do not wish to detract from its value in the least ;
but I still think that for girders which admit of a
constant being obtained by experiment, the formula
he proposes has no advantage over that which he
condemns, although I would not claim for the latter
more than it deserves. ‘This may be shown more
clearly by expressing both formule in the same
terms, and arranging them as follows—
Hurst aS Cc
ad
Captain Seddon ie
ad aS
which differ only in the “4 f” of the latter being
substituted for ‘‘C” in the former, ‘‘C” represent
ing a constant number obtained by breaking similar
girders—a process which takes into account even the
ductility of the iron, as well as all imperfections in-
volved in the construction of the girder, and which
process might be repeated for various classes of
iron; while “4 f” in Captain Seddon’s formula
represents merely four times the tensile strength
ascertained by the breaking of specimens of the
iron, or, as Captain Seddon has put it, “ the limit-
ing stress in tons per square inch,” a value which in
the present state of our knowledge is only conven-
tional. Both formule were fully investigated 25
years ago, during the consideration of the projects
ON TESTING
for the Britannia and Conway Bridges, and those
who wish to pursue the subject further cannot do
better than refer to the descriptions of these bridges
by Messrs. Clark & Fairbairn. As regards my
handbook, I am well aware of its imperfections, and
have been for some time engaged in preparing a
completely revised edition.
was thoroughly revised last year, and, to my mind
at least, it leaves very little to be desired as an
engineer’s pocket-book,—I am, &c.,
Mr. Molesworth’s book
J. T, Hurst.
COMPETITIONS. Sir,—Your—I may say our—vyilla and mansion competitions appear to have been model competi- tions, the existence of Mr. Norman MacLaren’s— or Mr. James Shaw’s—design “to the contrary not- withstanding.” venience and pleasure, another competition be organised, say for a small hotel, town hall, or a school building.—Yours, &c., May I suggest, that at your con- OnE or THE HuNDRED. [By all means. As schools are much talked about just now, let us have a school planning competition, and let it be £10 10s. for best plan, and £5 5s. for second best plan. early number of the Burtprnc News. In the mean- time we should be glad of any hints and suggestions as to the competition.—Ep. ] We will give conditions in an
“TO ARCHITECTS OF THE GOTHIC SCHOOL.” Str,—A circular has lately come into my hands which, I think, deserves a wider publicity than it is likely to receive, and I ask permission to draw the attention of the public to it through your columns. It is addressed ‘To architects of the Gothic school,” and intimates that a freeholder, who has some valuable building plots to let, ‘‘is anxious to secure the best’ Gothic designs possible by the use of plain and honest materials, and yet that such designs shall be different from what already exist in his neighbourhood.” I should have imagined that nothing would be easier than to obtain such designs, but it would appear that the advertiser’s wants are complicated by reason of his anxiety “that his ground should be speedily covered.” He puts that last, as Dogberry would say, but it is evident that this consideration operates quite as forcibly with him as his desire for the diffusion of Gothic art. “This,” we are told, “is a good opportunity to architects of known ability, and who have the command of capital. There are builders ready to commence the erection of houses if liberal advances can be had. Buildings are already erected in the neighbourhood, designed by some of the leading architects of the day, and other important works were about to be commenced under one of our greatest Gothic architects, who has hitherto designed no buildings there.” The situation of this Gothic Goshen is not specified, but it would be only a kindness to some architects without capital if the advertiser would reveal the whereabouts of this happy vale. Its educational value must be con- siderable. Can it be in the neighbourhood of the Law Courts? ‘The proposed works,” we are in- formed in continuation, “if carried out in good taste and with judgment as to construction, arrangement, and cost, would be certain to be a remunerative and safe investment, and lead to in- creased work for the architect here and elsewhere.” “Here be truths.” Nothing more is required than taste, judgment, and discretion, to ensure success ! This production concludes with a nota bene to the effect that the circular has been sent to a limited number of architects, and to no one who is known to have designed any buildings in the immediate locality.—I am, &c., x ees
TAKING OUT QUANTITIES IN SCOTLAND. Srr,—Having sometimes seen in the BurLpinG News articles “on the taking out of quantities,” and reference made to the Scottish mode of esti- mating the cost of work both before and after execu- tion, I have taken the liberty of sending to you some “schedules” illustrative of that method as practised in Glasgow, and I now follow them with some explanatory notes. With us the general plans, or, as we call them “working drawings,” are commonly drawn to a scale of 1Jin., or 2in. to 10ft. These are all that are usually put into the hands of the surveyor, or ‘‘measurer,” as he is called with us, and from these and a few brief jottings of particular sizes or other specialities, he has to prepare his schedules. ‘When I was serving my apprenticeship—about five-and- twenty years ago—it was customary for the archi- tect to prepare a “specification” for each artificer’s .
