1841.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



129 



of One Tliousaiul Pountls, 3 per cent. Government securities, or Thirty Pounds 

 per annum, whicli I request the Institution to accept, as my Annual Donation, 

 to be applied as may appear best suited for the objects to which I liave re- 

 ferred, or for otlier purposes conducive to tlie benefit of the Institution. 



ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. 

 March 8. — Jos. Kav, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Messrs. W. A. Burn, and J. J. Cole were elected as Associates. 



The resolution of the Council was read on the Essay sent in for the prizes 

 offered by the Institute, and it was announced that tlie medal had been 

 awarded to Mr. Edward Hall, (late of Birmingham), for his Essay on Iron 

 Roofs. 



Mr. George Godwin called the attention of the Institute to the investiga- 

 tions in progress concerning the origin of several fires supposed to have been 

 caused by overheating the pijies of hot water apparatus. — A discussion took 

 place on tlie effects likely to be produced Ijy the temperatures to which hot 

 water may be raised under pressure, and Mr. Godwin was requested to ascer- 

 tain and report to the Institute such facts as might be developed in the course 

 of the inquiry to which he bad alluded. 



A paper was read on the Architectural Antiquities of Wisby, in the island 

 of Gothland, communicated by John White, Esq. 



AVisby in the lOth and 11th centuries was one of the most important com- 

 mercial cities in the North of Europe, and is is said to have contained eighteen 

 ehurches, of which there are still extensive remains. These buildings, which 

 display the pointed arch, claim an antiipiity greater than is generally con- 

 ceded to that and other characteristics of the Gothic style, especially the 

 church of St. Lawrence, bnilt in the year 10-16, St. Drotten in 1086, St. 

 Peter in the same year, and St. Nicolas in 1097. These pretensions to the 

 high antiquity of the pointed arch Mr. AVhite supported by numerous cita- 

 tions from Klingvall, Pontanus, Jonas Coldingenses, and other northern his- 

 torians. In the discussion which ensued, it was suggested that the original 

 foundation of these buildings might have been preserved in history, and that 

 they might have been rebuilt at a later period without any record of the fact 

 having survived, an argument now fully admitted in several cases, (that of 

 the Cathedral at Coutances for example), in which dates have been assigned in- 

 consistent with the character of the architecture. But although Mr. White's 

 paper may have been not altogether conclusive on this point, it drew forth 

 the warmest acknowledgments of the meeting, as a most valuable accession 

 of new matter to the stores of the architectural antiquary. 



March 22. — Edw.vrd Blore, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Mr. Frederick John Francis was elected an Associate. 



A letter was read from Professor Willis, Honorary Fellow, accompanying 

 the copy of a curious and probably unique drawing (in England) of the profile 

 of a door at Stephen's Church, Bristol, from a MS. of the Itinerary of WiUiam 

 of Woicester, in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This 

 work has furnished many of the technical terms used by the architects of the 

 middle ages, but the drawing, which has been overlooked until the present 

 time, throws new light upon several of them, especially on the term " corse," 

 which has hitherto been a crux to antiquaries, and is omitted in some of our 

 best glossaries. — Mr. Poynter first indicated the application of this word to 

 the pinnacles of St. George's Chapel at Windsor, in the contract for vaulting 

 the choir of tliat building, and its occurrence in the drawing in question ap- 

 plied to the flanking pinnacles of the doorway, seems to fix its meaning. It 

 is probable however that the square shaft of the pinnacle only is intended, 

 and that perhaps with reference to a pecuUar use. — " A corse with an arch 

 buttant" is mentioned elsewhere by WiUiam of Worcester, and in both the 

 cases referred to, the shaft of the pinnacle serves as an abutment — at St. 

 George's to the arch buttant (or flying buttress), and at St. Stephen's to the 

 lofty pediment over the arch. 



A paper was read on the Electrotype by Mr. G. H. Bachhoffner, Professor 

 of Natural Philosophy, Queen's College, Guernsey, and Lecturer at the Royal 

 Polytechnic Institution, who accompanied his experiments by several sug- 

 gestions as to the mode in which practical architecture might be benefitted 

 by this invention. 



Mr. George Godwin in pursuance of the proceedings of the last meeting, 

 detailed the results of the investigation into the cause of the fires at Man- 

 chester, conducted by Messrs. Davies and Ryder, at the instance of the Man- 

 chester Assurance Company, and embodied in their printed " Report on Per- 

 kins's system of warming buildings by hot water." — Mr. C. J. Richardson 

 combated the report, and was disposed to question the accuracy both of the 

 facts and conclusions. Even if it were admitted that ignition had been caused 

 by hot water pipes, they were, according to his statement, not those of Per- 

 kin's apparatus, but of imperfect and bungling imitations. 



The Institute then adjourned over the Easter hoUdays, the next meeting 

 being appointed for the 19th of April. 



THE OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY. 

 Feb. 10.— The Rev. Dr. Buckland in the Chair. 



Tlie following new iiiemliers were admitted : — The Earl of Dunraven, 

 Adare Mawr ; Rev. the AVarden of All Souls' College ; Rev. Thomas Synions, 

 M..\. Ensham ; Rev. Henry Richards, M.A. Horfield, near Bristol; Thomas 

 Stock Butterwortb, Esq., Westbuiy, near Bristol; Rev. George Dawson, Exe- 

 ter College ; Rev. R. Greenall, Brasennose College. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On Stanton St. John's Church, near Oxford, by Mr. Simpson, of Oriel 

 College, illustrated by numerous sketches. The chancel of this Church is an 

 interesting specimen of the transition from the early English to the Decorated 

 styles towards the end of the thirteenth century. The east window is very 

 remarkable and almost unique, the tracery being carried in straight lines 

 through the head with foliations and good mouldings. Some of the original 

 stained glass is preserved in the side windows, and some painting on the 

 wood-work in the body of the Church. 



2. On Montivilliers Church, in Normandy, by the Rev. T. W. Weare, Christ 

 Church. This Church affords a curious sjiecimen of the change from the 

 Norman to the Gothic style, which was very scientifically traced by Mr. 

 Weare, illustrated by several sketches, and by comparison with other build- 

 ings, particularly with Clirist Church Cathedral. 



3. On the restoration now in progress in the Temple Church, London, 

 communicated by Sir Alexander Crokc, through the President of Trinity Col- 

 lege. This restoration appears to be conducted in the best taste, and is en- 

 titled to the cordial approbation and admiration of all lovers of architecture, 

 and is the first real restoration of a Church to its original state, with its 

 painted roof, stained glass windows, and ])olished marble pillars. 



4. On the recent discovery, by the Rev. C. F. Watkius, at Brixwortb Church, 

 of the foundations of a round end to the chancel, from which it has been as- 

 sumed that this was a Roman Basilica; and it is proposed by Mr. Watkinsto 

 rebuild the chancel in its original form and on the old foundations. The 

 Chairman made some observations on the published account, and showed 

 that the conclusion that this was a Roman Basilica was somewhat hastily ar- 

 rived at, and scarcely borne out by the facts, since the round east end or apse 

 was the common form of building Churches down to the twelfth century ; 

 and the workmanship of this Church is of so very debased a character as to 

 be much more likely the rude imitation of a later age than genuine Roman 

 work ; nor does there appear to have been any occasion for a tower to a Basi- 

 lica. It was also objected that to rebuild the chancel on the old foiuid.ations 

 would perhaps invalidate the evidence, now so valuable, of its original form 

 which these circular foundations aff'ord. And a hope was expressed that 

 measures might be taken to preserve these foundations in such a manner as 

 to be accessible to the student of Architecture. 



The Secretary mentioned that a local Society has been established at Bris- 

 tol, according to a suggestion in the rules of the Oxford Society ; and it was 

 agreed that a copy of each of this Society's publications should be presented 

 to the Bristol Societv. 



REVIE'WS. 



The Railttays of England. By Francis Whishaw. 

 (Second Notice.) 



Agreeably to the promise, we continue our extracts from Mr. 

 Whishaw's work, the first which comes before us on this occasion re- 

 lates to the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. 



The Ballasting on the London and Birmingham is thus described. 



The ballasting is of the width of 28 feet, and 22 inches in thickness. 

 There are no less than seven difl'erent descriptions of ballasting ; viz. burnt 

 clay, burnt marl, gravel, sandstone, cinders, rock marl, and broken stone. 

 The burnt clay and burnt marl cost from Is. 2rf. to 2s. 6(/. per cubic yard ; 

 the gravel and sandstone from 6rf. to Is. 6(7. ; the cinders from 2s. dd to 3s.; 

 and the rock marl and broken stone (lias and oolite) from 9(/. to 5s. 6;/. per 

 cubic yard. So many descriptions of ballasting, and so many dirt'erent prices, 

 cannot be heard of in the history of any other railway. 



With regard to the Durham and Sunderland railway we find 



Some of the embankments on this railway are formed chiefly of small coal, 

 which is, perhaps, the best material that can possibly be used for this pur- 

 pose ; the cost is stated to have been 9rf. per cubic yard : except, however, 

 in the largest coal distincts, its use is entirely precluded by the cost of 

 carriage. 



Of the inclines on the same line a longer account is given. 



To work this railway there are eight fixed engines : the first, or Sunder- 

 land engine, being of 70 horse power ; the second, or Seaton Bank-top, 42 

 horse ; the third, or Merton, 70 horse ; the fourth, or Appleton, 83 horse ; 

 the fifth, or Hetton, 42 horse ; the sixth, or Moorsley, .'>2 horse ; the seventh, 

 or Piddington, 85 horse ; and the eighth, or Sherburn, also of 85 horse 



T 



