By C. E. Pouting, F.8.A. 



177 



The following extract from the architect's report indicates the 

 spirit in which the work has been carried out : — 



" It is of the greatest importance that this beautiful and historical 

 specimen of the work of two periods of architecture — wholly 

 distinct, but both equally interesting — should be handled with the 

 greatest care, and irrevocable injury might be done to it by careless 

 or unsympathetic treatment. The old stonework should be pre- 

 served intact wherever sound, however small may be the fragments ; 

 all loose parts should be re-set, and all the old fragments which 

 can be found restored to their original positions. Any renewals 

 should be made with a faithful regard to the spirit of the old work, 

 and they should be confined to the separate features which have, 

 been broken off and have disappeared as described in detail above, 

 and on no account should old stonework be interfered with, because 

 it is weatherworn or decayed on the surface, so long as it is capable 

 of fulfilling its purpose in supporting the fabric, and the greatest 

 care must be observed in repairing it not to scratch the original 

 surface." 



A great point was made of preserving Mr. Hoare's central core 

 of the lower stage intact, as evidence of that period of the history 

 of the Cross, rather than carry out a conjectural restoration of the 

 central shaft. 



The view accompanying this is reproduced from a photograph 

 taken in January, 1895, immediately on the completion of the 

 work. 



