1850.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



23 



of room and framing to have them eonnecteJ. The mortising is done liy a 

 fly-wheel and douhle-crank connected to a cross-head similar to an engine, 

 in the centre of which is fixed the mortising-iron, the wood passing under it 

 between two guides, the one fixed and the other elastic, to suit wood of 

 unequal thickness. To tenon, the niortising-iron is taken out, and the frame 

 containing tlie two saws is fixed to the cross-head. On the driving shaft is 

 fixed an eccentric shove, which communicates the motion to a ratchet fixed 

 on the cud of a roller to which is fixed one end of a rope, the other is at- 

 tached to a slide carriage on which the wood is conveyed to the saws or 

 mortising-iron. To hore, a journal is put into the centre of the cross-head 

 containing the auger, which is coupled to a square iron rod, which is made 

 to move easily through a shove and fly-wheel placed on the top of the fram- 

 ing, the motion to which is communicated from a sliove and fly-wheel outside 

 the framing; any amount of pressure may he obtained by adding weight to 

 one side of the large fly-wheel. The motion is communicated to the ripping 

 saw by the large fly-wheel : the cross-bead requires to be disconnected during 

 the time of ripping. 



3. "On a method of introducing an abundant sripphj of Fresh Air into 

 Coal-Mines, and of preventing the accumulation of Fire-Damp therein." 

 By Mr. NYilliam Shedden, of Leith, 



The author gives the following abstract of his method : — Fans have been 

 long used for winnowing corn. They are used for smelting cast-iron in 

 foundries. They are used for blowing smiths' forges. They are used by 

 brewers and distillers for cooling their liquors. Tliey are used for ventilating 

 large bnildings. The question occurs — could they not be efficiently used for 

 ventilating coal-mines ? Fans being of such general use, their properties are 

 well understood. By their rapid rotatoiy motion they send otY a large cur- 

 rent of air from the extremity of the blades, and by which means a partial 

 vacuum is created at the centre. Attach a pipe to this centre and let it go 

 along the roof of all the workings in the mine — thus the enemy will be with- 

 drawn, and a constant circulation kept up. Let another set of fans be put 

 in raotioB, and pipes attached to the extremity of the fan-box, and these 

 pipes running along the bottom of all the workings, an abundant supply of 

 fresh and wholesome air would be thrown in, restoring the equilibrium, and 

 making it impossible for an explosion to take place. Any one of these fans 

 would do alone, but the two combined would be far more complete, A 

 small engine would answer the jiurpose, and for the price of fuel, it might 

 he said to be nothing at a coal-mine. I do not think it would be necessary 

 to keep the engine in motion 2t hours in the day, perhaps 12 would be suf- 

 ficient — a few hours before the miners commence work, and stop when they 

 stop. The pipes alluded to do not require to be strong, nor their jinnings to 

 be air-tight. By not being tight they will operate along their whole length. 



It is calculated that since the year 1800, more than 20,000 human beings 

 have been killed by explosions in coal mines in this country. In l8-i7 and 

 1848, more than 1,200 lives were thus lost, and in 18-19, upwards of 700. 



ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. 

 Dec. 3, 1849. — Tuomas Bellamy, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



"On t?ie Ancient -Architecture of Scotland." By R. \V. Billixgs, Asso- 

 ciate; who exhibited a large number of beautiful sketches, forming part of 

 the illustrations of the work on the ' Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities 

 of Scotland.' 



Antiquities are to be regarded not merely as objects for date-mongers, but 

 as works of art; as memorials of ancient limes, most valuable as illustrating 

 history. The antiquarians of France and Germany — nay, we ourselves, 

 have been too apt to claim great remoteness for their antiquities, but all 

 these are put to shame by the more ancient remains of India and Egypt. 

 As a preliminary remark it was to be observed, that although the principal 

 monuments of both England and Scotland may be identical in minute 

 details; yet, at the same time, great changes and varieties occurred in various 

 leading features, so as to produce a distinct individuality in the character of 

 Ihe Scottish edifices. 



The beantiful little Church of Leuchars, in Fife, by some reputed as of 

 Saxon origin, is a fine Norman specimen, with an apsidal east end. The 

 Cathedral at Elgin is a beautiful edifice, and the arcaded streets of that town 

 most interesting, somewhat resembling those of Chester — the arcade, how- 

 ever, being on a level with the street, and constructed of stone. At three 

 miles from Elgin is a curious old fire-proof house, at Coxton, in which the 

 alternate stories are arched, with semi-vaultings, the upper one, however, 

 being pointed. The turrets of Cawdor Castle, near Inverness, are curious, 

 being circular in the lower part and octagonal above. 



Mr. Billings considered the first Scotch architectual era to have ranged as 

 in England, from 1066 to 1200. The Abbey and Palace of Dunfermline, and 

 the Cathedral of Kirkwall, are gigantic examples of that period, and they 

 bear a striking affinity to Durham Cathedral, the solid cylindrical columns in 

 the two being identical ; and history informs us that .Al'alcolm the Third, in 

 1093, assisted in laying the foundation of Durham Cathedral, and soon after 

 hia return from that place, founded the Abbey of Dunfermline, the first 

 monks of which were from Canterbury. The smaller Scotch buildings of 

 the Norman period approach nearer ia beauty to those of England. Among 



the most beautiful and perfect specimens are the Churches at Leucharj and 

 Dalmeney. An endless variety of detail was presented in Scottish architec- 

 ture, most remarkable ; when not only animals and foliage were introduced, 

 hut even the signs of the Zodiac. At the period of the transition to the 

 early Pointed or Lancet, the mouldings of the Scotch buildings became so 

 minute, as to excite almost a feeling of pity for the workman who had to 

 accomplish such a task. Some of the capitals at Holyrood Chapel are a 

 verification of this — the quality of the ornament was, however, equal to tha 

 quantity. At a later period, the system became the very reverse, and mors 

 efi'ect was produced without mouldings by the use of the chamfer, the splay 

 of the arch however being moulded. The Catheilral of Dunblane is an extra- 

 ordinary example of the great etTect produced by the judicious use of limited 

 means. 



Had the ancient friendship between Scotland and England continued to 

 exist, there is little doubt but that the architecture of both would have re- 

 mained nearly identical ; but the complete severance of all friendly ties 

 between the two kingdoms, and the endless feuds among the various clans 

 and even families of Scotland, compelled the lairds to make their housei 

 strongholds of defence, both against their English foes, and the attacks of 

 their own countrymen. This state of things gained for Scotland at least 

 this advantage, that of possessing what no other country can boast of — a 

 complete series of Castellated .\rchitecture. Not only did the clannish con- 

 stitution of society in Scotland at this time divide the population into very 

 small parties, hut the very disposition of the people was averse to large con- 

 gregations; this may easily he proved by the small size of the ancient portiou 

 of Scotland's capital, and of Stirling, the approaches being defended by a 

 strong fortress. The political changes of society have, however, gradually 

 had their effect in Scotland, and the application of steam and machinery 

 have almost entirely changed the state of the country in this respect. 

 Ancient mansions have been deserted and dismantled, and detached houses 

 of the lower classes, and many " towns," as they are called, have been 

 allowed to decay and fall. 



It is very singular that Scotland does not now possess one recognisable 

 specimen of a Norman Castle; although, close to her borders, so many ar« 

 to be found, such as Norham, Bamborough, Newcastle, and Durham. Yet, 

 that such castles did exist, there can be but little doubt ; and the only mods 

 of accounting for their disappearance is the supposition that they were sold 

 by the magistrates as quarries, out of which so many of her abbeys were 

 constructed. So determined seems this desire to have been for the destruc- 

 tion of old castles in Scotland, that Caerlaverock is the only example earlier 

 than 1350, and it still retains its corbelled parapet. Kililrummie, in Aber- 

 deenshire, appears to be the first recognisable Scotch castle, and was built 

 about 1270 to 1300, belonging to the early English style. One side is ex- 

 ceedingly singular, forming the end of a church with three lancet windows; 

 probably so constructed in the expectation that any attacking force would 

 respect the place of worship. The early Scotch castles appear to date with 

 the time when the Bruces and Baliols left their English castles and occupied 

 Scotch ones. 



During the 14th and 15th centuries there existed a considerable affinity 

 between the Ecclesiastical and Castellated architectural decorations, thus the 

 hanging tracery of Rosslyn Cbapel and the west front of Holyrood is found 

 in the court-yards of Llinlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle. The projecting 

 turrets, so peculiar a feature in Scotch Castellated Architecture, are wonder- 

 fully constructed ; many of them being infinitely more massive and weighty 

 than the walls to which they are attached. This is the case at Kirkwall, where 

 the Bishop's Palace is a fine ecclesiastical fortress residence. This edifice ami 

 the Abbey of Crossraguel are magnificent specimens. In fact, the latter is 

 a fortified abbey, with all the requirements of a cathedral establishment. 



Some of the old castles appear to have been elaborately painted io what 

 has been called fresco; but, from the fact of the paint peeling off, it was 

 evidently never incorporated with the plaster or wood. In their plans tha 

 castles varied considerably ; and this must be attributed to the most natural 

 of causes — the architects in those days invariably suiting their plan to the 

 nature of the ground on which they were about to build. Caerlaverock 

 Castle may be mentioned as one of the most singular in plan, being triangu- 

 lar with round towers at two of the angles, and at the third double towers 

 with a gateway between them. This is the only fortress in Scotland retain- 

 ing a moat ; the portcullis room, too, is very complete. Inigo Jones is said 

 to have imitated the plan in Longford House, Wilts, belonging to Lord 

 Radnor. Fivie Castle is another, quite peculiar in plan, and its elevation one 

 of the grandest in Scotland : the centre also is highly illustrative of the 

 Scotch Castle of the 16th century. The construction of the staircase is well 

 worthy of notice, with its steps 16 feet long. 



After the general introduction of gunnery on a large scale, by means 

 of which the reduction of any fortress by a regular investment became only 

 a question of time, the Scotch prudently defended their buildings against 

 attacks by small arms, the only means that flying parties of marauders could 

 have at command. This system was of great importance in developing 

 architecture, for it did not prevent the addition of ornament to the Castel- 

 lated house. The decorated terminations of the massive walls in some of 

 these buildings, form a highly picturesque and pleasing contrast. It was, 

 however, upon the old walls of keep towers, that the turrets, windows, and 

 roofs of the domestic character are raised ; and this will account for the dis- 

 appearance of many of the old castles. Glammis, Castle Fraser, and others, 



