IQU 



THE HOUSE AND ITS EQUIPMENT 



STATUES ON GATEPIERS. 



The Decorative Value of Slutucs on (iutepiers Examples at Hertford, Maidenhead and 

 Temple Dinsley The Alternative Use of ] nses -And the Most Suitable Types. 



IX tlu 1 last chapter Mr. Starkie Gardner gave an account of the greatest influence, that English iron 

 work has known, Jean Tijou. In the complete picture presented by a beautiful entrance, however, 

 the adornment of the gatepiers often plays a very important par!, as will now appear. At Christ s 

 Hospital, Hertford, the gatepiers and adjoining screen walls were fortunately left unharmed when 

 the rest of the Hospital was lately rebuilt Eig. 2.21 shows them surmounted by a pair 

 of Bluecoat Bovs in lead. The following extract from a minute of the Court of Christ s Hospital, 

 held on March 2/th, 1696, enables the work to be dated with reasonable accuracy : &quot; It was thought fit 

 that the Pieres on each side of the gate be adorned with a Blewcoat Boy on the top thereof for incitement 

 to Travellers and otheis to be charitable to the Hospital!.&quot; 



The faith of the Governors seems to have been justified, for some benefactor provided them in lead. 

 It cannot have been long after the beginning of the eighteenth eenturv that the boys seen in the picture 



221. AT CHRIST S HOSPITAL, HERTFORD 



of the gaies took their place. One of them is also illustrated to a larger scale in Fig. 223. When 

 taken down about thirty years ago for repairs they were found to be very heavy and full of sand, the 

 remains of the casting core. Doubtless, in those days the figures were painted as they are to-day in 



