ISiS.] 



THE CIVIL EN^GINEER AND ARCHITECFS JOURNAL. 



237 



state. This stair bflongs to llie nave rather than the tower, havinfc in fact 

 existed before tlip tower was built. It appears to be quite distiuct from 

 the tower till within a few feet of the top, where it has been connected 

 vvilh it by turnins the stairs into (hose of Ihe tower. It is this connection 

 ■>vhich has caused its dilapidation ; the settlement occasioned by the weisht 

 of the tower having completely crushed it and disjointed the stone work, 

 which has from time to time been further injured by the iron ties which 

 have been introduced. I am of opinion that it will be necessary to rebuild 

 it from the gutter upwards, a height of about S or 10 feet. 



The Pariqiet on this side has been much injured by the undue pressure 

 of the roof, and by the improper use of iron cramps. It is twisted into 

 every variety of curve, and in some part overhangs considerably. Many 

 of the stones have been split bv the iron wedges impriidently used by the 

 plumbers, and the whole is in very bad condition; so much so, that I thiuk 

 it necessary that it should be taken oil' and re-set, using uew stone for such 

 parts as are injured. 



The Buttresses to the sides of the clerestory have lost their linials, and 

 the heads are a good deal broken. The niche-heads on the same side are 

 much decayed and broken, and all Ihe figures but one are gone. 



The Windows require considerable repairs. The midlions are many of 

 them very much out of the perpendicuLir, and the tracery is displaced and 

 broken, both by the settlement of the whole, and from the effects of the 

 iron-work. The ashlar-work also requires to be generally repaired, that 

 which is decayed being replaced, and the whole pointed where neces- 

 sary. 



North Side. — The stair turret is as bad, or worse, than that already 

 described. 



T/i« Parapet is not so bad, but some parts at least must be rebuilt. The 

 eastern pinnacle is not quite so bad as that on the other side. 



The Side Buttresses, with their heads and linials, aie not quite so much 

 injured as those on the south side, but the linials are all gone, the niche 

 heads are much decayed, and only four figures remain. The windows and 

 ashlar require similar repairs, though to a less extent. 

 South Aisle. 



The Parapet is in some parts shaken and crooked, and the ornamental 

 tracery decayed. The part of Ihe west end, and some few other portions, 

 must be taken down and refixed,and the decayed parts generally repaired 

 with new stone. 



The Buttress heads have generally lost their finials, and are in other 

 respects defective ; these must be eflectually repaired, and new finials 

 provided. 



The two large angle pinnacles are very much shattered, and will require 

 very considerable repairs. That at the western angle is particularly dila- 

 pidated, almost every part of it being more or less shaken or defaced — 

 this must in a great measure be worked anew : that at the eastern angle 

 is not so bad, but slill requires considerable work to make it perfect. The 

 figures from the niches are all gone, and should be replaced with new 

 ones. The greatest care should be taken iu the restoration of these beau- 

 tiful features, as if repaired by men who are ignorant of the style and 

 character of the ornamental work of the period, their beauty would be 

 entirely destroyed, which would be far worse than leaving them iu their 

 present dilapidated state. 



The buttresses, string courses, and ashlar on this side are in parts de- 

 cayed and defaced, and will require general restoration where injured. 

 The South-West Chapel. 



(Xow used as the Vestry and F.ngine-house.) 

 The exterior of this chapel is more dilapidated than any other part of 

 the building ; it is needless to enter into particulars, as nearly all the 

 stone.vvork is more or less decayed. It is a very beautiful feature, and 

 merits a perfect restoration. 



North Aisle. 



The parapet is generally substantial, and requires but little repair; ex- 

 cepting the exquisitely pierced parapet at the eastern gable, which requires 

 some restoration, lieing in parts decayed. The buttress heads require 

 some general repairs, and new finials throughout. The large angle pinna- 

 cle at the western end is sadly shattered, and requires the same extent of 

 repair with that on the south aisle. That at the eastern angle has been 

 partially repaired, but without much regard to correctness of detail ; it 

 requires still a good deal of work, and the figures should be made perfect. 

 These, like those on the other side, require a very careful study of the 

 details, to render them correct. 



Interior. 



Stoneicork.— l should recommend that the entire surface of Ihe freestone 

 work, such as doorways, windows, pillars, arches, &c., should be carefully 

 cleaned from the yellow-wash and paint by which they are at present dis- 

 figured, and tliat they should, where broken or injured, be repaired and 

 brought to a clean and perfect surface. The parts which have always been 

 rough, should be carefully pointed, and those which have always been 

 plastered, should be re-coloured and repaired. This would improve the 

 general aspect of the interior more than anything, and would remove that 

 plosfei'!/, disagreeable character which now so much injures the elTect of 

 the building. The great surface of the building causes this to be a rather 

 more expensive operation, than might at first be expected, but the cosl 

 would be amply repaid by the improved aspect of the building. 



The Ceilings wonlii require painting, but on this a question might arise 

 as to the colour which should be used. There are three ways in which it 

 might be done. First, to paint it in imitation of stone, which I think ob- 

 jectionable, as being an imitation of a totally different material from that 

 of which they are actually constructed, and one of which, in their preseut 

 form, it would be hardly possible that they could have been made. This 

 system of imitation of one material in another, is so contrary to the prin- 

 ciples of the ancient church builders, that I think it very desirable to 

 avoid it; particularly in restoring an old building. The centre ceiling is 

 ancient, though not so old as the church ; it was originally all of oak, 

 though much of the boarding has since been replaced in deal. Strictly 

 speaking, it should not be made to appear like anything but oak. The 

 second kind of painting would be graining it iu imitation of oak ; this 

 would be coming nearer to the truth than the former method, but is to a 

 certain extent open to the same objections, as being a mere imitatii>n. 

 Perhaps, therefore, the most correct way would be that which was fre- 

 qupntly used in old churches, for the decoration of wood ceilings, viz. : — 

 merely ornamental panning, not imitating any particular material. Some 

 of Ihe ancient ceilings were most richly decorated in this way, and it pro- 

 duces a very beautiful effect. It might perhaps be practicable to take olf 

 the present painting alto;;ether, and to restore the original surface of the 

 wood ; which would, if it could be done perfectly, be preferable to any 

 kind of paint: iu ihis case the oak boarding must be restored throughout. 

 The experiment might be tried on a portion of the ceillug. Tliis would 

 not, however, apply to the ceilings of the aisles, which are of deal. 



The Stone Floor 

 Is in many parts very much broken, and is throughout very damp. I 

 should think it desirable to relay it on a good bed of concrete or shingle. 

 I would, however, strongly recommend that the ancient monumental slabs 

 should be retained, and that wherever they are found to be over the graves, 

 they should be relaid in their proper places. They add much to the in- 

 terest of an old church, even when worn and defaced, and should uot be 

 removed merely to gratify a love of neatness and novelty. 



The Glass. 



The glazing throughout is in a very imperfect state, and needs extensive 

 repairs. It has been much weakened by the removal of the upright iron 

 staucheons, with which every light was formerly strengthened. Its strength 

 has also been much diminished by the use of squares instead of diamouds, 

 which are much less capable of withstanding the effects of the wind. 



These repairs may be varied greatly in their cost, according to their 

 greater or less conipletness. Should the funds be suliicient, I should 

 recommend the whole to be re-glazed iu diamonds, with new iron-work, 

 which would vastly improve the appearance of the church, both externally 

 and internally, which is much disfigured by the bad character of the 

 present glazing. 



To the above suggestions I will add a few more, which though not im- 

 mediately necessary are still requisite, to render the state -of the church 

 worthy»of the original ma-inificence of the design. The first is the ex- 

 pediency of raising a separate fund for refitting Ihe interior in oak iu a 

 manner worthy of such a building, the present fittings being so mean iu 

 their appearance, and absurd in their arrangement, as to destroy the whole 

 effect and propriety of the internal character of the building. Should thii 

 be done, a more suitable situation might probably be found for the organ, 

 which is a great obstruction to the chancel. The second suggestion is, 

 that the external and internal restoration should be extended to the chan- 

 cel, and that its beautiful stalls should be cleaned from the thick coatings 

 of paint with which they are disfigured. I would thirdly suggest that the 

 portion of the south-western chapel, now used as the engine-house, should 

 be united to the remaining portitm which is used as the vestry, and that 

 the arches between the latter and the church should be thrown open, eu- 

 closing the lower part only with an oak screen. And also that the beau- 

 tiful roof and other internal features of this chapel should be restored. 



It would also be a most noble restoration if Ihe present ringing floor 

 coula be removed, and the magnificent story above, with its groined vault- 

 ing and its beautiful windows, restored to its original intention. This 

 would then be one of the finest things in existence, of this description. I 

 was, on the first examination of this part of the building, at a loss tn 

 imagine how the bells were originally rung, but on a closer inspect iun, I 

 Sud that they were formerly rung from Ike litile stone galleries, whicli run 

 round the second story on the level of the window cills, the ropes pa?»jug 

 through the beads of the windows, thence for a considerable beigl.t 

 through the interior of the wall, and over blocks or pullies set in openings 

 in the walls of the bclfiy. The holes through which they passed, may jet 

 be seen in each window-head, and also in the belfry above. 



I will now conclude by strongly urging the necessity of a faithful ad- 

 herence to the ancient details, which can only be doue by a most carelul 

 study of their existing remains, and a comparison between them, and 

 those of other churches of a corresponding age : without this, the beauty 

 of the building will be destroyed, and the preseut work become a subject 

 more to be lamented than rejoiced in. 



I would beg to add, as a practical suggestion, that io restoring the stone- 

 work, the use of iron should be as much as possible avoided ; its plucit 

 being substituted by stone plugs and capper cramps, or dowells. 



