1843.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



13 



sign, as we present it, of the tower, with the restored spire, is a true pre- 

 sentment of the original intention of the first designer. We may have 

 omitted to state hitherto, however, what is most satisfactory to know, that in 

 the midst of the dilapidation and disintegration which pervade the work, 

 not/iing in the moulded forms or other enrichments, and nothing in the forms 

 and proportions generally, is entirely lost ; hnt specimens remain, from which 

 restorations may be made with certain truth. 



" It will be remarked, that the basement of the tower, in the drawing of 

 the elevation of the west front, shows a greater depth of faced work than 

 appears at present. This we consider it desirable to restore, to prevent the 

 structure from losing any part of its apparent elevation, in raising the level 

 of Redclift'e Street before the north-west entrance to the enclosure j and we 

 have suggested, in the drawings, a re-arrangement of the steps of approach 

 to the church, in accordance with this view. We propose to alter the win- 

 dows of the tower, from their present forms and proportions, to others, 

 more in character with the design of the superstructure." 



For the reasons detailed in the report, Messrs. Britton and Hos- 

 king recommend that attention should be first directed to the resto- 

 ration of the tower and spire ; and that the former should, under the 

 circumstances, not be deferred any longer, if it be desired to preserve 

 this beautiful monument from utter destruction. 



Speaking of "the church, with the lady chapel, the porches, and 

 other accessories," after the recommendations before alluded to, as to 

 what are termed the hydraulic arrangements and the proposed re- 

 construction of the roofs — Messrs. Britton and Hosking suggest a new 

 gateway at the north-west corner of the church enclosure, and other 

 arrangements consequent upon the recent alterations under the Bristol 

 Improvement Act, and for giving more effect thereby to the beautiful 

 edifice under consideration ; and, after their valuable suggestions for 

 the substantial repair of the fabric, in the south flank of the chancel 

 and the transept, they refer to their drawings, as showing with suffi- 

 cient clearness the restorations they propose of the various parts of 

 the exterior of the building ; which restorations, they state, are 

 mostly from existing authority within the building itself — and where 

 no specimen exists of the original parts, the restorations are stated 

 to be made, to the best of their judgment, from analogv. Repeating 

 their difficulty of separating the substantial from the ornamental parts 

 they go on to show that many portions commonly considered merely 

 ornamental are either absolutely necessary, or highly useful, to the 

 substantial structure; and after naming several instances of this sort, 

 they add : — 



" We do not contemplate, however, and cannot imagine that the necessary 

 and useful reparations are required to be made in merely shaped blocks of 

 stone without the mouldings and other decorations appropriate to them ; 

 and, for ourselves, had rather see the church a picturesque ruin, than be 

 instrumental in restoring it to strength without its native beauty. We pro- 

 pose, therefore, the restoration of all the decorations that ever existed upon 

 the surfaces of the work, and that with new materials, and not by paring and 

 patching the old." 



They add, however, that, in some few cases, the heads of the win- 

 dows, with the tracery in them, may, perhaps, be preserved. 



The architects propose to move the modern attachment to the 

 south porch, also the lobby to the lady chapel, and likewise the sheds 

 and other unsightly objects about the church, and of the doorway and 

 steps at the south-east side of the north porch ; they further suggest 

 certain provisions and restorations consequent on such removals. 



As to the interior of the Church. — The suggestions of Messrs. 

 Britton and Hosking refer to matters of which they describe the 

 restoration for the most part as easy. But the most important res- 

 toration of the interior is that at the east end, involving the removal 

 of Hogarth's pictures, and other inappropriate attachments, and the 

 reinstatement of the east and clerestory windows; and they hope to 

 find that reparations only will be wanted to the screen, between the 



chancel and the lady chapel. The latter will want certain alterations, 

 including a new floor. 



In the restoration of the spire will be involved some alterations, 

 pointed out by them, at the west end of the church, including a new' 

 arrangement for the organ; and they express their hope, that as the 

 whole of the lead and glass must be removed from the windows for 

 the restoration of the mullions and tracery, it may, in the principal 

 ones at least, be reinstated with stained glass of an appropriate 

 character. 



They also propose in detail numerous and important alterations in 

 the re-arrangement of the pews and seats, by which, with an increased 

 seat accommodation, and belter command from the pulpit, reading- 

 desk and altar, a more perfect view of the building may be obtained, 

 whilst all the beautiful pillars shall be in every case insulated, that 

 the eye may range over their lofty and symmetrical forms and pro- 

 portions, from the base to the summit. 



The reports of Messrs. Britton and Hosking, with their accompa- 

 nying drawings, though (for want of more time and labour than they 

 have yet been able to bestow) not made with the fi-.lness of detail re- 

 quired for actual operations, are, nevertheless, the result of admea- 

 surements and of careful delineation of the most important parts; 

 and their observations arise from close examination of the work in 

 general and in detail, upon personal survey and attentive study and 

 consideration of what they have observed; and their estimatt 

 joined are the result of such survey and consideration, and also upon 

 comparison with the cost of other large works of analogous extent 

 and character. 



The Tower and Spire.— The complete reinstatement and lesto- 

 ration of the tower with its pinnacles, and all its decorations, in the 

 manner, and with the stone they contemplate adopting, will cost 

 about £8,200. 



The re-construction and completion of the spire, according to the 

 data afforded by the existing portion thereof, and according to the 

 drawing of the west front restored, and making the requisite addi- 

 tions to the buttresses of the tower, and including the scaffolding and 

 machinery necessary, will cost about £3,(300. 



The Church, with the lady chapel, the porches, and other accesso- 

 ries:— 



1st. — The hydraulic arrangements, including new roofs to the church 

 and lady chapel, the re-arrangement of the north-west approaches, 

 with the earthwork, drains, &c, as recommended in their general 

 report, after giving credit for old materials, will cost £1,850. 



2nd. — The substantial repair and reinstatement of the interiors, and 

 the repair, reinstatement, and perfect restoration of the whole of the 

 exteriors of the church, lady chapel, and porches, including the re- 

 working of the whole of the external decorations in the stone alluded 

 to, together with the alterations and presumed improvements recom- 

 mended in the general report, it is estimated will cost nearly £21,400. 

 3rd. — The re-arrangement and refitting of the interior of the 

 church as proposed by Messrs. Britton and Hosking, will cost £2,000. 

 The whole presenting a total outlay of £37,650, which, with a due 

 estimate for contingencies, in works so extensive, and of such com- 

 paratively novel character, cannot, in the judgment of the parish au- 

 thorities, be safely calculated at a sum much less than £ 1' ',' >• II I. 



It is, however, stated by the architects, that the expense under the 

 2nd head may admit of reduction, by their finding, on further exami- 

 nation, portions of the work capable of remaining, or of being re- 

 worked and re-applied in places less exposed to the weather, and it 

 is their opinion, that the part of the work contemplated in this section 

 may, after precautions are taken to secure it, generally be distributed 

 over any reasonable number of years. 



In allusion to the large sum required for effecting the object in all 

 its proposed details, the parish authorities can but repeat, in the lan- 

 guage of their preliminary address, that such an amount is only to be 

 raised by the liberal co-operation of those whom providence Ins 



