1846. J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



of more costly appliances, by simplicity and correctness of design. This 

 rule ought ut.Ieast to be observed in public buildings. For domestic archi- 

 tecture, the showy system of building is so nearly universal that it seems 

 hopeless and useless to utter one word of protest against it at present. In 

 this latter case there seems no better course than to wait patiently till 

 another race of builders may arise too free from vulgarity to emulate the 

 jackdaw iu his assumption of the finery of the peacock. Rut with respect 

 to public erlifices the case is dillerent, and against the building them of de- 

 ceptive (and for the most part perishable) materials, a public protest ought 

 to be decisively pronounced. 



If it be desired to determine on what principles good taste universally 

 decides against architectural imitations, the answer appears to be two fold, 

 lathe first place deceptive materials are almost always less durable than 

 those substances which they imitate ; whereas one of the chief sources of the 

 pleasure of viewing beautiful architecture is the consideration of its per- 

 manence. In admiring an ancient ediflce, we shall find on analysing our 

 own minds, that a great part of our gratification arises from the reflection 

 that this very building, the object of our admiration, has beeu the wonder 

 of many by-gone generations ; and if, again, we are delighted by a noble 

 work of modern architecture, our delight is in a great part made up from 

 the consideration that we have bequeathed to posterity a worthy monument 

 of the skill and intelligence of our own times. 



But a second argument against architectural deceptions may be alleged 

 which cannot be like the preceding one answered by the allegation that 

 the deception may be made as endurable as the reality. An important 

 source of the pleasure alTorded by pure architecture is the recognition of 

 the skill and energy of the architect. The curiously fretted roof and the 

 elaborate window tracery delight, not only because of iheir intrinsic beauty, 

 but because of the labour and patience exhibited on the part of the work- 

 man. If it were possible to conceive that these beautiful forms were ready 

 made to the builder's hands by some fortuitous process, the feeling of ad- 

 miration would be greatly moderated. In all masterpieces of architecture 

 (and not of architecture only, but of all other noble arts) a distinguishing 

 characteristic is that their full beauties are ascertained only by reiterated 

 examinations. Every closer inspection serves only to reveal fresh instances 

 of the skill and perseverance of the builder — but if these closer and more 

 penetrating examinations should disclose traces of deception only, and 

 want of candour, if we find that there has not been all that skill and per- 

 severance bestowed which were promised at first view, the feeling of dis- 

 appointment is proportionate to the former feeling of admiration, the mind 

 retaliates by contempt of the juggle — retaliates iu the same degree as it 

 has been misled. 



We have been led to make these observations by observing one of the 

 most flagiant instances of the vulgarity of " make believe" building which 

 we remember to have ever met with. The fault is aggravated by appear- 

 ing in Church-architecture, where, if any where, everything should be real. 

 "The church at Piatt," says the Builder, " is being erected from the de- 

 signs of Mr. Sharp, who was the architect of a church at Lever-bridge, 

 near Bolton-le-Moors, previously noticed, also built of terra-colta. The 

 plan consists of nave and aisles, chancel, a sacristy south of the chancel 

 and a tower at the south-west of the nave. The siyle is decorated. The 

 architect has probably had many restrictions to contend with, to which we 

 may attribute the slightuess of the internal piers, and increase of distance 

 between the buttresses. The tower is united to the aisle by a lofty arch, 

 which is worthy of praise. The church has more than the usual amount of 

 decoration, and ornament is introduced with good effect in capitals and 

 buttresses. The windows have two lights with foliated heads, and are, in 

 tire aisles, of two varieties. The design is evidently the production of a 

 dever man, but we are compelled to express aa unfavourable opinion of its 

 execution. — Each separate piece of the terra-cotta is cast to the required 

 form, and is much about the same size as a corresponding block of stoue. 

 Every piece is hollow, being, as it appeared, afterwards filled or backed 

 up with concrete. TUey are all nothing more than pots, and from the trial 

 we made, seem to have less cohesive power than brick. Nevertheless, 

 they are made to support great weights. The piers of the church, which, 

 as we have said, appear remarkably slender, are entirely composed of 

 these pots. The plan is the clustre of four shafts. There are the usual 

 defects incidental to the burning ; parts of the rjullions are out of the per- 

 pendicular, and the lines of the window-sill undulate in a very unsatisfac- 

 tory manner. Indeed, the whole building, though good in design, and not 

 deficient in ornament, will not bear a near approach. The face of each 

 piece is scored with lines to imitate the tooling ; and the mortar Joints are 

 large, and obtruding." 



A church " built of terra-cotta" ! Piers " composed of pots" ! Lines 

 scored "to imitate the tooling" ! The faults of execution are not the only 

 faults of such a building — are far outweighed the errors of principle 

 which produced them. The notice which has just been copied is fol- 

 lowed by some judicious general remarks — so judicious that we cannot 

 but regret their brevity. " Unless the skilful hand" it is remarked, 

 " be apparent, the result is disappointment rather than delight, and regret 

 that the mind of the artist should have conceived it vain." Here truly 

 there was no appearance of the skilflul hand. Let us rejoice that it was 

 KH-skilful — otherwise perchance unskilful observers might have applauded 

 an essay which the judicious would censure in proportion to its success- 

 fulness. 



ARCHITECTURE IN MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, AND 

 BIRKENHEAD. 



Sir, — I resume my notices of the Building Arts in Manchester, and, 

 having lately had opportunity of looking over sjiue of the principal works 

 going on iu Liverpool and Birkenhead, propose adding a few remarks 

 upon the progress there, which may be acceptable to your readers. 



In my former letter I alluded to the proposed extension of the present 

 Manchester Exchange, as designed to be carried into effect by Mr. A. 

 W. Mills; since that time two great schemes have, with Mr. Mills's 

 design, divided the attention of the public. The first was for an erection 

 in Market-street and High-street, and a design of considerable merit was 

 prepared by Mr. Gregan. The second scheme was to erect the Exchange 

 on a site iu Mosley-slreet, on part of which the Theatre Royal formerly 

 stood. The latter seems now to have been decided upon, as on Thursday, 

 Nov. 13th, the proprietors of the present exchange agreed to dispose of 

 their buildings to the Musley-street committee, on the condition that an 

 Act of Parliament be obtained, in the next session, for the erection of the 

 Exchange and other public buildings on the site in Mosley-street. 



It is to be hoped that on this occasion an opportunity for public compe- 

 tition will be afforded to Architects, and doubtless the committee will 

 have many first-rate designs sent in, from which they may select one which 

 shall be an ornament to the town. 



The head offices for the Manchester and Leeds Railway, at Huntsbank 

 are advancing rapidly to completion, being raised to the level of the 

 second floor. Much delay VTas experienced at first, owing to the unstable 

 character of the ground on which the building is placed, and the archi- 

 tects, Messrs. Holden, have taken all proper precaution to have the 

 foundations firm aud secure, going down in some parts to a depth of 43 feet 

 below the ground level. It is pleafing to notice instances of care and 

 atteniion in I'ouudmions, as so many fine buildings are sadly deficient in 

 this respect; as for example the Town Hall and the Athena;um in Man- 

 chester, both of which show cracks ia stonework, arising from a sinking in 

 the foundations. The erection for the head oflices is built of Yorkshire 

 stone, and the design is in the Italian Palatial style of architecture usual in 

 the IGth century. The site is an irregular pide of ground, the principal front 

 being 76 feet long, from which the building extends back about 96 feet. 

 The height from ground line to cornice is about 42 feet, divided into two 

 lofty storeys. The whole of the rooms in the basement is fireproof, and of 

 •>ery strong construction. Below the level of the ground floor windows is 

 a broad tooled string course, under which is rustic worked masonry, Jn 

 the centre of the principal front is a handsome Italian doorway, with the 

 customary mouldedjambs,deutelled cornice, trusses, &c. The ground floor 

 windows, two on each side of doorway, have unusually bold broad 

 moulded architraves; and the upper storey has Italian corniced windows ; 

 level with the bottom of the latter runs a moulded string course- A bold 

 dentelled cornice will surmount the whole. The back parts of the erection 

 are in rockfaced Yorkshire stone. These oflices, with the arching over of 

 the River Irk, will when completed materially improve the approach to 

 one of the handsomest railway stations in Ih kingdom. The station for 

 the Manchester and Leeds, and Manchester and Liverpool railways, 

 which I allude to, ranks high as an enginering work, having two iron 

 bridges of great span, and embankments of considerable height. The 

 erection for refreshment and waiting rooms, offices, &;c., are designed with 

 a substantial simplicity and fitness, which we look fur in vain in structures 

 of greater pretension. 



Warehouses. 



A warehouse of novel character is near completion in Faulkner-street, 

 for Mr. Denlith the drysaiter. It has an elaborately worked stone front in 



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