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Article GOSSIP FROM BRITTANY. ← Page 3 of 3 Article ITALY. Page 1 of 1 Article ITALY. Page 1 of 1 Article THE NORTHERN ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION. Page 1 of 2 →
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Gossip From Brittany.
and the darker and more distant glimpses given when any of the worshippers leave this particular shrine , and penetrate into the church beyond , is a scene to awaken tbe artist half of the travelling architect . The position , of this church crowning the hill on which the little town stands , is very picturesque , especially from the bridge over the small river that flows at its foot . Lannion is full of old houses ,
some of them curious . Their floors project as their stories rise , and some have two octagon turrets at their angles , covered with slates or slaty stones . There is one with two round turrets , plastered and timber framed , with conical roofs—the projecting stories are in some supported with early Renaissance brackets or consoles , and in others with brackets of late Gothic character . In the market place is
the largest assemblage of these old houses ; in the rest of the town you only come upon them here and there , but here the whole scene is composed of them . In Morlaix , even more than at Dinan , they are very rapidly disappearing , and giving way to much more common-place habitations ; indeed , from at one time being remarkable among the towns of Brittany for its so long retaining its old appearance , it has
now become equally remarkable for the energy and rapidity with which it is casting down its old habitations , aud assuming , more than any other town that I have seen here , the appearance of a rising and prosperous French town . Oh ! where shall the descendants of Prout find employment soon ! for where there are yet scores of old houses in a town , the pictures are spoiledfor often cannot find two
to-, you gether ; and of the houses that are built in their , stead , the least said about them the better—except that in justice , it ought to be added that , in strong contrast with our modern buildings , they almost universally here have steep roofs and dormer windows .
The village churches that I have passed , are very many of them modern . Some few have picturesque figureseither on them , as a curious bell-cot , or quaint gurgoyle ; or belonging to them , as the common style to the churchyard , formed of a single p iece of granite , often rendered picturesque and interesting by one or both of its posts being surmounted by a rude granite cross . A perfect ancient
stone churchyard cross seems , thanks to the Revolution , not to be met with . There are many shafts , many more small fragments , some restorations , some entirely new crosses , but not a perfect old one . The same observations apply nearly equally to crucifixes and road-side crosses . There are very few old crucifixes , and those are terribly mutilated ; while , although there are many perfect road-side crosses , most of these are from their islainness , their rudeness , and the colour of their material , very difficult to put down as old or new .
There are a good many remains of domestic Gothic architecture of all dates—principally , however , late—to be seen in the walls , doorways , windows , and niches of the houses in passing through the villages , but for the most part , and especially in cottages , standing apart in the country ; the material makes them very similar to the cottages in Wales , and other rocky countries . I find , and it is
characteristically descriptive of the country , that I began by speaking of granite and granite country houses , and after noting or mentioning buildings of far more artistic and laborious enrichment , that I have again descended to the country cottages , differing very little " in their walls of stone and their roofs of stone , from the rock foundation of the land they arc built in . I will take the hint and leave
off , having apparently come round again to where I began , but in my next I shall have to take a loftier flight , and treat of the beautiful churches of Fol goat and St . Pol de Leon . ( To he continued . )
Italy.
ITALY .
At the last meeting of the Society of Antiquaries , at Newcastle , a letter from Dr . Bruce was read , which contained the following remarks : — "The day after my arrival here found me on my way to Pompeii . * * I at once understood the peculiar construction of the Pompeian houses . The restored house in the
Italy.
Crystal Palace gives you an idea of coldness and gloom . At Pompeii itself , smarting as I did at the end of October undei ? the heat and glare of the sun , I could understand how precious an open roof , aud shady corner , and dripping fountains , would be in July . * * It has been an ill-built city . The walls of the houses are like those of London . The masonry of our wall is much superior to most of that at
Pompeii-The buildings consists of tiles , lava , volcanic tufa , and organic tufa , or what we would call petrified moss . It is astonishing how largely this organic tufa , which we are familiar with in the Roman buildings in the north of Engr land , enters into the composition of its buildings . The walls of the city have been originally made of pieces of lava , not much larger than a good sized fist . It hashoweverbeen
, , repaired at two subsequent periods with large-sized and well-squared blocks of organic tufa and travertine . The fountains in Pompeii are numerous , each being provided , with a cistern , something like that at the north gate of Borcovicus . I measured the ruts in tho street . From the centre of the one to the centre of the other is 4 ft . 7 in . I measured one street , which was 7 ft . 6 in . wide ,
and another which was 6 ft . 4 in . We must not be surprised that the streets in our stations are so narrow . I studied the public baths with care ; they are very complete and interesting . The place where the coppers were placed is clearly marked ; and you can trace the water in its course , and follow the hot air from the furnaces , under the floors , and up the sides of the rooms . * * I think I now
thoroughly understand the meaning of the fircone ornament which is so frequently met with in Roman camps . My drawings will explain it . One day we wont to Puzzuoli ( the ancient Puteoli ) , where the apostle Paul landed for Malta on his way to Rome . We trod upon the very stones of the Roman way which he traversed . The amphitheatre here is very completeespeciallin the underground
-, y arrange ments . The Temple of Neptune , where Pompey sacrificed before the battle of Actinm , is still to be seen . The Temple of Serapis is a beautiful ruin ; it has been submerged by the sinking of the coast , and again raised by volcanic action . The pillars , washed by the sea level , and eaten by the pbolas below this line , prove this , I have photographic views which clearly exhibit this striking fact . "
The Northern Architectural Association.
THE NORTHERN ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION .
This society has printed a report of its proceedings for 1860-61 . It appears , from the last annual report , that the committee have reason to congratulate the members on the increasing success and influence of the association .- papers have been read by various members , and excursions have been held at Aydon Castle and at Hexham , where the members examined the restorations then in at the
progress Abbey church , under the direction of the President , Mr . Dobson . In reviewing the action of tho Association in reference to matters of local professional interest , the committee refer to the cases of the Bishops Auckland New Town Hall , and Markets competition ; the Hartlepool Mechanics' Institute competition ; the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Savings Bank competitionin which latter case the recommendations of the
, committee were cordially received and acted upon , mid a question as to professional custom in connection with the Hartlepool Workhouse . The finances of the Association are in a satisfactory condition , and its useful influence appears to be extending . The report contains papers by Mr . J . P . Pritchett , on " The Evils of our Present Practice and the Best Way to
Remedy Them , " wherein the speaker advanced for discussion the propositions : That the position of architects is affected , 1 st . By the profession getting overstocked . 2 nd . By the rates of professional remuneration tending towards a reduction . 3 rd . By our present practice of spending , as a body , an immense amount of time and money every year in fruitless competition . 4 fch . By the public not having that
amount of confidence in architects that they should have . With regard to the ratesof professional remuneration , it was remarked that , in addition to the number of practising architects , " another way by which our remuneration is tending towards a reduction , is by architects having different
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Gossip From Brittany.
and the darker and more distant glimpses given when any of the worshippers leave this particular shrine , and penetrate into the church beyond , is a scene to awaken tbe artist half of the travelling architect . The position , of this church crowning the hill on which the little town stands , is very picturesque , especially from the bridge over the small river that flows at its foot . Lannion is full of old houses ,
some of them curious . Their floors project as their stories rise , and some have two octagon turrets at their angles , covered with slates or slaty stones . There is one with two round turrets , plastered and timber framed , with conical roofs—the projecting stories are in some supported with early Renaissance brackets or consoles , and in others with brackets of late Gothic character . In the market place is
the largest assemblage of these old houses ; in the rest of the town you only come upon them here and there , but here the whole scene is composed of them . In Morlaix , even more than at Dinan , they are very rapidly disappearing , and giving way to much more common-place habitations ; indeed , from at one time being remarkable among the towns of Brittany for its so long retaining its old appearance , it has
now become equally remarkable for the energy and rapidity with which it is casting down its old habitations , aud assuming , more than any other town that I have seen here , the appearance of a rising and prosperous French town . Oh ! where shall the descendants of Prout find employment soon ! for where there are yet scores of old houses in a town , the pictures are spoiledfor often cannot find two
to-, you gether ; and of the houses that are built in their , stead , the least said about them the better—except that in justice , it ought to be added that , in strong contrast with our modern buildings , they almost universally here have steep roofs and dormer windows .
The village churches that I have passed , are very many of them modern . Some few have picturesque figureseither on them , as a curious bell-cot , or quaint gurgoyle ; or belonging to them , as the common style to the churchyard , formed of a single p iece of granite , often rendered picturesque and interesting by one or both of its posts being surmounted by a rude granite cross . A perfect ancient
stone churchyard cross seems , thanks to the Revolution , not to be met with . There are many shafts , many more small fragments , some restorations , some entirely new crosses , but not a perfect old one . The same observations apply nearly equally to crucifixes and road-side crosses . There are very few old crucifixes , and those are terribly mutilated ; while , although there are many perfect road-side crosses , most of these are from their islainness , their rudeness , and the colour of their material , very difficult to put down as old or new .
There are a good many remains of domestic Gothic architecture of all dates—principally , however , late—to be seen in the walls , doorways , windows , and niches of the houses in passing through the villages , but for the most part , and especially in cottages , standing apart in the country ; the material makes them very similar to the cottages in Wales , and other rocky countries . I find , and it is
characteristically descriptive of the country , that I began by speaking of granite and granite country houses , and after noting or mentioning buildings of far more artistic and laborious enrichment , that I have again descended to the country cottages , differing very little " in their walls of stone and their roofs of stone , from the rock foundation of the land they arc built in . I will take the hint and leave
off , having apparently come round again to where I began , but in my next I shall have to take a loftier flight , and treat of the beautiful churches of Fol goat and St . Pol de Leon . ( To he continued . )
Italy.
ITALY .
At the last meeting of the Society of Antiquaries , at Newcastle , a letter from Dr . Bruce was read , which contained the following remarks : — "The day after my arrival here found me on my way to Pompeii . * * I at once understood the peculiar construction of the Pompeian houses . The restored house in the
Italy.
Crystal Palace gives you an idea of coldness and gloom . At Pompeii itself , smarting as I did at the end of October undei ? the heat and glare of the sun , I could understand how precious an open roof , aud shady corner , and dripping fountains , would be in July . * * It has been an ill-built city . The walls of the houses are like those of London . The masonry of our wall is much superior to most of that at
Pompeii-The buildings consists of tiles , lava , volcanic tufa , and organic tufa , or what we would call petrified moss . It is astonishing how largely this organic tufa , which we are familiar with in the Roman buildings in the north of Engr land , enters into the composition of its buildings . The walls of the city have been originally made of pieces of lava , not much larger than a good sized fist . It hashoweverbeen
, , repaired at two subsequent periods with large-sized and well-squared blocks of organic tufa and travertine . The fountains in Pompeii are numerous , each being provided , with a cistern , something like that at the north gate of Borcovicus . I measured the ruts in tho street . From the centre of the one to the centre of the other is 4 ft . 7 in . I measured one street , which was 7 ft . 6 in . wide ,
and another which was 6 ft . 4 in . We must not be surprised that the streets in our stations are so narrow . I studied the public baths with care ; they are very complete and interesting . The place where the coppers were placed is clearly marked ; and you can trace the water in its course , and follow the hot air from the furnaces , under the floors , and up the sides of the rooms . * * I think I now
thoroughly understand the meaning of the fircone ornament which is so frequently met with in Roman camps . My drawings will explain it . One day we wont to Puzzuoli ( the ancient Puteoli ) , where the apostle Paul landed for Malta on his way to Rome . We trod upon the very stones of the Roman way which he traversed . The amphitheatre here is very completeespeciallin the underground
-, y arrange ments . The Temple of Neptune , where Pompey sacrificed before the battle of Actinm , is still to be seen . The Temple of Serapis is a beautiful ruin ; it has been submerged by the sinking of the coast , and again raised by volcanic action . The pillars , washed by the sea level , and eaten by the pbolas below this line , prove this , I have photographic views which clearly exhibit this striking fact . "
The Northern Architectural Association.
THE NORTHERN ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION .
This society has printed a report of its proceedings for 1860-61 . It appears , from the last annual report , that the committee have reason to congratulate the members on the increasing success and influence of the association .- papers have been read by various members , and excursions have been held at Aydon Castle and at Hexham , where the members examined the restorations then in at the
progress Abbey church , under the direction of the President , Mr . Dobson . In reviewing the action of tho Association in reference to matters of local professional interest , the committee refer to the cases of the Bishops Auckland New Town Hall , and Markets competition ; the Hartlepool Mechanics' Institute competition ; the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Savings Bank competitionin which latter case the recommendations of the
, committee were cordially received and acted upon , mid a question as to professional custom in connection with the Hartlepool Workhouse . The finances of the Association are in a satisfactory condition , and its useful influence appears to be extending . The report contains papers by Mr . J . P . Pritchett , on " The Evils of our Present Practice and the Best Way to
Remedy Them , " wherein the speaker advanced for discussion the propositions : That the position of architects is affected , 1 st . By the profession getting overstocked . 2 nd . By the rates of professional remuneration tending towards a reduction . 3 rd . By our present practice of spending , as a body , an immense amount of time and money every year in fruitless competition . 4 fch . By the public not having that
amount of confidence in architects that they should have . With regard to the ratesof professional remuneration , it was remarked that , in addition to the number of practising architects , " another way by which our remuneration is tending towards a reduction , is by architects having different