Chapter 11 of 15 · 3991 words · ~20 min read

Part 11

Mons. Acollas, Architecte, 33, Rue Lafayette, à Paris. Messrs. Aickin and Capes, 1, Clarence-street, Islington. W. Albon, Esq., 32, Abingdon-street, Westminster. C. B. Allen, Architect, 9, Great College-street, Westminster. F. C. Anderson, Esq., 9, Holles-street, Cavendish-square. _Architekton_ (W. Bardwell, 4, Great Queen-street, Westminster). Henry Ashton, Esq., 50A, Lower Brooke-street. John S. Austin, Architect, Bedford. William Austin, Esq., High-street, East Dereham, Norfolk. C. Badger, Esq., Architect, 40, Rue Blanche, Paris. R. Baly, Esq., 14, Buckingham-street, Adelphi. Alfred Beaumont, Architect, 5, Warwick Chambers, Beak-street. Richard Bell, Architect, Pope's Head Chambers, Cornhill. W. Bell, Esq., Clift Cottage, Coronation-road, Bristol. Thomas Bellamy, Esq., 8, Charlotte-street, Bedford-square. Mons. Felix Belleflamme, Brussels. J. S. Benest, Esq., 21, Rutland-street, Hampstead-road. J. H. Bertram, M. Inst. C. E., Reading. John Black, Esq., 33, Ernest-street, Regent's Park. E. Blatchley, Esq., Jun., 362, Oxford-street. Mons. Alphonse Botrel, Architecte, 121, Rue Poissonnière, Paris. A. W. Boulnois, Esq., Bazaar, King-street, Baker-street. W. Boyle, Esq., 5, Little George-street, Westminster. R. Brandon, Architect, 11, Beaufort-buildings, Strand. R. Broad, Esq., Horseley Works, Tipton. B. Broadbridge, Architect, 35, Ladbroke-square, Notting-hill. F. Brown, Esq., Francis-street, Torrington-square. R. Brown, Esq., 41, Lord-street, Liverpool. J. B. Bunning, Esq., Guildhall. George A. Burn, Architect, George-place, Hammersmith. H. P. Burt, Esq., 238, Blackfriars-road. John G. Grace, Esq., 14, Wigmore-street. E. I. C., Alnwick. Mons. J. Cailloux, 25, Marché St. Honoré, Paris. A. F. Campbell, Esq., 104, Pall Mall, Reform Club. Henry Case, Esq., 19, Hanover Villas, Kensington Park. James Catt, Esq., Blackheath Park. Mons. J. Charpentier, Architecte, 15, Rue Larochefoucalt, Paris. J. Claringbull, Esq., 95, Herbert-street, New North-road. Mons. Henri van Cléemputte, Laon, France. Mons. J. P. Cluysenaar, Architecte, Bruxèlles. J. Colshurst, Esq., 36, Jermyn-street, St. James's. John Colson, Architect, Winchester. Mons. J. W. Conrad, Chief Engineer, La Haye, Holland. C. E. Coote, Esq., Clifton. W. R. Corson, Architect, 3, Albion-place, Leeds. H. Courtney, Esq., 39, Awylne-road, Canonbury-square, Islington. David Cowan, Esq., 9, Hungerford-street, Strand. Mons. Crémont, 10, Place des Vosges, Paris. W. Cruikshank, Esq., 24, Duke-street. Mons. E. Damas de Culture, 20, Rue Mazayran, Paris. G. J. Darley, Esq., C.E., 7, Kildare-street, Dublin. Mons. A. Delaage, 6, Place de l'Oratoire du Louvre, Paris. W. Dennis, Esq., Church-street, Hackney. Charles Downes, Esq., 29, Coleshill-street, Eaton-square. Francis Drake, Esq., 11, Calthorpe-street, Gray's-inn-road. Henry Duesbury, Architect, Kensington Gore. Mons. Duflocq, 96, Rue Rochechouart, Paris. Mons. Dupuy, 9, Rue Duplessés, Versailles. Mons. Dusillion, Architecte, Thoune Suisse, Faubourg St. Germain, Paris. Mons. A. Durand, Moulins, France. O. C. Edwards, Esq., Gloucester. J. Eldudge, Esq., 16, Somerset-place, New Road, Commercial-rd. East. J. Elliott, Architect, 28, Portland-terrace, Southampton. M. G. Fétar van Elven, Architecte, Amsterdam. D. Erskine, Esq., 58, Clerk-street, Edinburgh. W. J. Everitt, Esq., 1, Garden-street, Stepney-green. Mons. Théodore Faure, 2, Little Argyle-street, Regent-street. Mons. F. Desaint Félix, and E. E. White, Architects, Ipswich. Mons. Henri Fevre, Architecte, 41, Rue de Vaugirard, à Paris. F. Finlay, Esq., 26, Duke-street, Westminster. Charles Folkard, Esq., C.E., 56, King-street, Whitehall. David Colin Forbes, Esq., Stirling. James Forrest, Esq., C.E., 25, Great George-street. W. Freebody, Esq., 9, Duke-street, Westminster. S. C. Fripp, Architect, Bristol. L. Fürges, Architecte, Crefeld. C. E. G., Warwick. A. Garrard. Esq., Surveyor. Mons. Gaulle, 81, Rue Française, à Calais. Arthur Gearing, Esq., 2, Ranelagh-street, Leamington Spa. William Geggie, Esq., Knaresbro'. J. Gibson, Esq., Great Western Railway, Paddington. Robert Gilingham, Esq., 31, Clarence-road, Kentish Town. Mons. Godeboeuf, Architecte, 12, Place Breda, à Paris. C. W. Gooch, Esq., 42, Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road. John Gould, Esq., Tottenham Park, Wiltshire. Richard Greene, Esq., F.S.A., Sec. to Lichfield Architectural Society. Edmund W. Grubb, Esq., Newnham, Gloucestershire. Robert S. Grubb, Esq., Newham-on-Severn, Gloucestershire. T. R. Guppy, Esq., Naples. J. C. Haddan, Esq., 29, Bloomsbury-square. Thomas Roberts Hannaford, Architect, 21, Trigon-terrace, Kennington. O. Hansard, Architect, 2, Kensington-gardens-terrace, Hyde Park. Robert Hardy, Carpenter, 32, North Conduit-street, Bethnal-green. John Thornhill Harrison, Esq., East Bolden, near Gateshead. J. P. Harrison, Esq., 11, Chancery-lane. Thomas Haw, Esq., 27, Prospect-terrace, Globe-road, Mile-end. Thomas Hayes, Esq., 7, St. George's-terrace, Hyde Park. Samuel Heilton, Esq., 54, Red Cross-street, City. Mons. J. Henard, 98, Rue St. Lazarre, Paris. James Hendrey, Esq., 4, Pancras-lane, Cheapside. J. Hewitt, Esq., Oxford. W. S. Hollands, Esq., 37, King William-street. Mons. Hector Horeau, 70, Rue Richelieu, Paris. George Horton, Esq., 6, Green-street, Grosvenor-square. Albert P. Howell, Architect, 2, Holywell-street, Westminster. Mons. C. Huchon, 28, Rue Meslay, Paris. Benjamin Hurwitz, Esq., 1, Brydges-street, Strand. John Imray, Esq., Engineer, 12, Howley-street, Lambeth. A. Jackson, Esq., Barkhart House, Orpington, Kent. Mons. Ch. Schoech Jaquet, 238, Rue de la Vertasse, Geneva. Charles Jayne, Architect, 7, Chancery-lane. Adam Jizkowski, Architect to the Government, Warsaw. Joseph Jopling, Esq., Felton Villa, Finchley-road. H. J. Kaye, Esq., 63, Sloane-street, Knightsbridge. G. P. Kennedy and R. Kennedy, Esqrs., Sussex Chambers, Duke-street, St. James's. J. T. Knowles, Esq., 1, Raymond-buildings, Gray's Inn. Herr Friedrich Krahe, Brunswick. Louis Kûhne, Brunswick. A Lady with great diffidence submits this plan. M. Laves, Architect to the King of Hanover, Hanover. Mons. A. G. Ledrut, Claremont. S. W. Leonard, Assistant-Curator Micrological Society, 11, Upper Stamford-street, Waterloo-road. W. B. Lewis, Esq., Rainbow-hill, Worcester. R. Lobb, Esq., 8, Goulden-terrace, Barnsbury-road, Islington. Locke Brothers, New Peckham. Henry Lockwood, F.S.A., and William Mawson, Architects, Bradford. Henry Lote, Esq., 51, Brompton-row. R. Lovely, Esq., C.E., 1, Victoria-terrace, Queen's-road, Nottingham. George Mackenzie, Esq., 3, Claremont-row, Barnsbury-road, Islington. Messrs. Magni and Thummeloup, 26, Boulevard du Temple, Paris. R. Mallet, Esq., Victoria Foundry, Dublin. Mansell and Elliott, Architects, Halkin-street West, Belgrave-square. R. M. Marchant, Esq., 18, Great George-street. P. J. Margary, Esq., Dawlish, Devonshire. W. P. Marshall, Esq., Temple-buildings, New-street, Birmingham. D. Mickle, Esq., 37, Queen-square, Bloomsbury. Joseph Mitchell, Architect, St. James's-street, Sheffield. J. Montheath, Esq., 10, Stanley-street, Paddington. James Moon, Architect, 1, Millman-street, Bedford-row. Captain W. S. Moorsom, 17½, Great George-street. G. Morgan, Architect, 6, Charles-street, Westminster. J. H. Muller, Gaes, Holland. Charles C. Nelson, Esq., 30, Hyde-park-gardens, London. Mons. C. Frédéric Nepveu, 13, Place d'Armes, Versailles. W. Nethersole, Esq., C.E., 73, Oakley-square, St. Pancras. I. W. Newberry, Esq., Hook Norton, Chipping Norton, Oxon. Francis B. Newman, Architect, 14, Heathcote-street, Mecklenburgh-sq. C. H. Newton, Esq., 92, Camden-road Villas, Regent's Park. Mons. Paliard, 23, Rue d'Enghein, Paris. E. Paraire, Architect, 16, Woodstock-street, Bond-street. Mons. Henri le Pâtre, 47, Grande Rue de la Chapelle, St. Denis, Paris. Thomas Peacock, Esq., High-street, Kensington. J. D. Pemberton, Esq., Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. G. Perry, Architect, 42, Newington-place, Kennington. Mons. Casimir Pétiaux, Paris. William Radley, Chemical Engineer, Regent-street, Lambeth. W. Railton, Esq., 12, Regent-street. W. Rankin, Esq., Stirling. W. Reed, Esq., Cannon Cottage Hill, Southampton. Messrs. Reid and Butcher, Architects and Surveyors, 38, Red Lion-square, London. Stanley Reilly, Architect, 3, Upper Kennington-green, Kennington. George Banks Rennie, Esq., Whitehall-place. Harry Ralph Ricardo, Esq., Beaulieu Lodge, Norwood, Surrey. W. Riddle, Esq., East Temple Chambers, Whitefriars, Fleet-street. H. S. Ridley, Architect, 31, Vincent-square, Westminster. J. B. Roberts, Architect, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. R. Roberta, Esq., Globe Works, Manchester. Andrew John Robertson, Esq., C.E., Newcastle-upon-Tyne. William Robertson, Esq., 12, Gordon-street, City-road. A. Rosengarten, Architect, Hamburg. Alex. M. Ross, Esq., 3, Parliament-street, Westminster. Rough Draught, 42, Stainford-street. Henry Rouse, Esq. H. H. Russell, Esq., C.E., M.R.S.A. W. Russell, Esq., 3, Frederick-street, Hampstead-road. E. Ryde, Esq., 14, Upper Belgrave-place, Eaton-square. George Sanderson, Esq., 136, Solly-street, Sheffield. Charles Sanderson, Esq., Friar-street, Reading. Robert Sandeman, Architect, Greenside, Edinburgh. H. Savage, Esq., 22, Beaumont-street. Mary-le-bone. W. Scurry, Esq., 7, Denbigh-place, Pimlico. Sed quis custodiet Custodes. J. P. Seddon, Esq., Gray's-inn-road. J. R. Sewell, Esq., Carrington, near Nottingham. Mons. A. Slater, Architecte, Elève de Mons. l'Architecte Cluysenaar. E. Smallwood, Architect, 86, Park-street, Camden Town. F. Smallman Smith, Esq., 18, Brunswick-st., Barnsbury-road, Islington. C. H. Smith, Esq., 29, Clipstone-street. J. M. Smith, Esq., 1, Chapel-place, Duke-street, Westminster. W. J. Smith, Esq., 18, Bond-street, Commercial-road, Lambeth. G. Campbell Smith, Esq., Banff. Messrs. Soyer and Warrener, Reform Club. Paul Sprenger, Esq., Architect to the Government, Vienna. Herr Friederich Stammann, Hamburg. Francis Sternitz, Esq., 10, Berner-street, Commercial-road East. W. Stewart, Esq., Seacombe, Cheshire. M. J. Stutely, Architect, 4, Doughty-street, Mecklenburgh-square. H. Suckling, Esq., 1, Conduit-street, Regent-street. George Tate, Esq., Bawtry, Yorkshire. J. Taylor, Architect, 22, Parliament-street. T. Taylor, Architect, 33, Clarendon-street, Oakley-square. J. H. Taunton, Esq., 2, Gordon-place, Kensington. D. W. Thomas, Esq., 20, St. Petersburg-place, Bayswater. R. M. Thompson, Esq., 46, Leicester-square. P. Thompson, Architect, 1, Osnaburgh-place, New-road. F. Thompson, Esq., 15, Trafalgar-square, Peckham. James Thrupp, Architect, 2, Park-place, Bath. H. W. Todd and W. Allingham, 91, Newman-street, Oxford-street. Richard Turner and Thomas Turner, Hammersmith Works, Dublin. Henry Turner, Esq., Low Heaton, Haugh, Newcastle-on-Tyne. F. Tyerman, Jun., Architect, 14, Parliament-street. Mons. Véron, 2, Quai des Armes, Paris. John Walker, Esq., Crooked-lane Chambers, King William-street. George Wallis, Artist, and Henry Summers, Architect, 14, College-place, Camden Town. J. N. Warren, Esq., C.E., 18, Adam-street, Adelphi. J. E. Watson, Esq., 74, Grey-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Henry Whitcombe, Esq., Slough. George Wightwick, Architect, 3, Athenæum-terrace, Plymouth. George Wilkie, Esq., C.E., 8, Powell-street West, King's-square. George Wilkinson, Esq., Horsham. S. J. Wilkinson, Esq., 7, Jeffry's-square, St. Mary Axe. James Williams, Esq., 18, Westgate-buildings, Bath. George Wilson, Esq., Knaresbro', Yorkshire. Ralph Wilson, Architect, 16, Bridge-street, Westminster. James G. Wilson, Esq., 18, Great George-street, Westminster, Richard Winder, Esq., Fenchurch-street. R. A. Withall, Architect, 80, Cheapside. W. H. Wontner, Architect, St. Ann's-road, North Brixton. Frederick Wood, Esq., 6, Franklin-road, Queen's-road, East Chelsea. Thomas Worthington, Architect, 54, King-street, Manchester. James Wylson, Architect, 112, Fyfe-place, Glasgow.

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LIST A.

ENTITLED TO FAVOURABLE AND HONOURABLE MENTION.

C. B. Allen, Architect, Great College-street, Westminster. W. Allingham (and Todd), 91, Newman-street, Oxford-street. _Architekton_ (W. Bardwell, 4, Great Queen-street, Westminster). H. Ashton, 50A, Lower Brooke-street. C. Badger, Architect, Rue Blanche, Paris. B. P. Baly (four designs). R. Bell, Architect, Pope's Head Chambers, Cornhill. Thomas Bellamy, Architect, Charlotte-street, Bedford-square. J. H. Bertram, C. E., Reading. A. Botrel, Architect, 121, Rue Poissonnière, Paris. R. Brandon, Architect, Little Beaufort-buildings, Strand. F. Brown, Francis-street, Torrington-square. J. B. Bunning, Architect, Guildhall, City of London. G. A. Burn, Architect, George-place, Hammersmith. J. Cailloux, Architect, 25, Marché St. Honoré, Paris. H. Case, 19, Hanover Villas, Kensington Park. J. Charpentier, Architect, 15, Rue Larochefoucalt, Paris. Henri Van Cléemputte, Architect, Laon, France. J. P. Cluysenaar, Architect of King of the Belgians, Brussels. J. W. Conrad, Chief Engineer, La Haye, Holland. H. Courtney, Esq., 39, Alwyne-road, Canonbury-square, Islington. Mons. Crémont, Architect, 10, Place des Vosges, Paris. W. Cruikshank, 24, Duke-street. A. Delaage, Architect, 6, Place de l'Oratoire du Louvre, Paris. C. Downes, Coleshill-street, Eaton-square. A. Durand, Moulins, France. Mons. Dusillion, Architect, Thoune Suisse, Faubourg St. Germain, Paris. M. G. Fétar Van Elven, Architect, Amsterdam. H. Fevre, Architect, 41, Rue de Vaugirard, à Paris. S. C. Fripp, Architect, Bristol. Mons. Gaulle, 81, Rue Française, Calais. A. Gearing, 2, Ranelagh-street, Leamington Spa. Eugene Godeboeuf, 12, Place Breda, Paris. J. T. Harrison, East Bolden, near Gateshead. T. Hayes, 7, St. George's-terrace, Hyde-park. J. Henard, Architect, 98, Rue St. Lazarre, Paris. H. Horeau, 70, Rue Richelieu, Paris. C. Huchon, 28, Rue Meslay, Paris. J. Imray, C. E., Howley-street, Lambeth. Ch. Schoech Jaquet, 238, Rue de la Vertasse, Geneva. Louis Kûhne, Brunswick. J. T. Knowles, Architect, 1, Raymond-buildings, Gray's Inn. M. Laves, Architect of the King, Hanover. A. G. Ledrut, Clermont, France. W. B. Lewis, Rainbow-hill, Worcester. C. C. Nelson, 30, Hyde-park-gardens, London. C. F. Nepveu, 13, Place d'Armes, Versailles. Mons. Paliard, Rue d'Enghein, Paris. H. le Pâtre, Architect, 47, Grande Rue de la Chapelle, St. Denis, Paris. Casimir Pétiaux, Paris. H. S. Ridley, Architect, 31, Vincent-square, Westminster. J. B. Roberts, Architect, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. A. Rosengarten, Architect, Hamburg. H. Rouse, Esq. W. Russell, 3, Frederick-street, Hampstead-road. H. Savage, 22, Beaumont-street, Marylebone. J. P. Seddon, Esq., Gray's-inn-road. A. Slater, Architect, Elève de Mons. Cluysenaar. F. Smallman Smith, 18, Brunswick-street, Barnsbury-road, Islington. C. H. Smith, Clipstone-street, London. Paul Sprenger, Architect, Vienna. H. Sumners, Architect, 14, College-place, Camden Town. Richard and Thomas Turner, Hammersmith Works, Dublin. F. Tyerman, Jun., Architect, 14, Parliament-street. Mons. Véron, 2, Quai des Ormes, Paris. J. Watson, 74, Grey-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. W. H. Wontner, Architect, St. Ann's-road, North Brixton. T. Worthington, Architect, King-street, Manchester.

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LIST B.

ENTITLED TO FURTHER HIGHER HONORARY DISTINCTION.

C. Badger, Architect, Rue Blanche, Paris. Thomas Bellamy, Architect, Charlotte-street, Bedford-square. J. H. Bertram, C. E., Reading. A. Botrel, Architect, 121, Rue Poissonnière, Paris. J. Cailloux, Architect, 25, Marché St. Honoré, Paris. Henri Van Cléemputte, Architect, Laon, France. Mons. Crémont, Architect, 10, Place des Vosges, Paris. A. Delaage, Architect, 6, Place de l'Oratoire du Louvre, Paris. M. G. Fétar Van Elven, Architect, Amsterdam. J. Henard, Architect, 98, Rue St. Lazarre, Paris. H. Horeau, 70, Rue Richelieu, Paris. C. Huchon, 28, Rue Meslay, Paris. A. G. Ledrut, Clermont, France. H. le Pâtre, Architect, 4K, Grande Rue de la Chapelle, St. Denis, Paris. Casimir Pétiaux, Paris. Paul Sprenger, Architect, Vienna. Richard and Thomas Turner, Hammersmith Works, Dublin. Mons. Véron, 2, Quai des Ormes, Paris.

[Illustration: Mons. Hector Horeau's Design for the Building. Exterior]

[Illustration: View of the Interior.]

TWO OF THE COMPETITION DESIGNS.

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The following descriptions and plates of two of the designs sent in competition for the Building, and specially mentioned by the Committee in their Report, are given from information obligingly furnished to us by their respective authors.

DESIGN BY M. HECTOR HOREAU, ARCHITECT, OF PARIS.

This was one of the most striking of all that were submitted to the Commission; it formed one immense hall, or shed, more than 2000 feet long, by about 270 feet wide throughout, with several small detached buildings on the north side, for refreshments, &c.

The interior of the main building was divided into five avenues, the centre one about ninety feet wide, those next adjoining rather more than fifty feet, and the outside ones about forty feet wide. Iron columns, about twenty-three feet apart, formed these avenues and supported arched ribs for the roof. One end of the building was semicircular, the other forming an ornamental façade, and about the centre of the length a transept was formed.

M. Horeau says: "Simplicity, grandeur, ready means of construction, and of increasing or diminishing the accommodation, and of removal if required, forming altogether a specimen of the most recent improvements introduced into the art of building--these are the principal objects which it has been sought to attain. The whole of the construction is of iron, without a single piece of wood, the foundation being executed in brick; the façade to be in metal, porcelain, and glass, the floor of asphalte, the roof to be principally covered with ornamental thick glass, in large dimensions, or ground glass with patterns.

"Of the trusses or arched ribs supporting the roof there were to be but three varieties, each in three pieces, with which the whole of the building could be erected. This subdivision of the roof-trusses would have facilitated the conversion of the building for other purposes; for, taken singly, or in various combinations, they would have formed many kinds of buildings for ordinary purposes. The attached buildings placed on the north side would have shown several modes of effecting this. The ornamental spandrils of the roof-trusses would be formed in stamped-work out of copper, and gilt.

"The façade shows at a glance the purpose of the building, as well as its interior disposition, in which the different widths of avenues would afford space for objects of all varieties of dimensions. The façade itself was to be formed with tracery or trellis-work of cast-iron, the lower part being covered with sheet-iron; the cornice and ornamental panels of porcelain; the medallions in coloured stone-ware; the doors and inclosures of metal, silvered and gilt; the ornamental details to be either cast or stamped; the scrolls in the panels being in coloured glass or mosaic.

"The pediment is crowned with a group of figures representing the Genius of Industry crowning the Arts and Sciences; in the cornice are placed the names of all the principal cities of the world, and the names of eminent men in panels. In the medallions are represented allegorical figures of the different branches of science and industry. At the angles of the building are placed trophies, the base of which would serve as guard-houses."

The engravings will serve to show the general effect of this design in its interior and exterior.

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DESIGN BY MESSRS. R. AND T. TURNER, OF DUBLIN.

In this design also the interior was arranged as one uninterrupted space, about 1,940 feet long, and 408 wide, the roof in one span rising about 120 feet above the floor; the supports, consisting of semicircular ribs, forming the interior into three avenues, the centre one 200 feet wide and the full height, the side ones 104 feet wide and about sixty feet high. In the centre of the length a transept was proposed, and the square area at the meeting of that with the central avenue was to be covered with a glass dome.

The ends of the building, as well as those of the transept, were to be filled in with tracery in the upper part, a colonnade below protecting the entrances. Galleries, if necessary, were to be placed in the side avenues. The construction of this building was proposed to be principally of wrought iron, which would have given to the circular ribs and other parts a great lightness of effect; but, on the other hand, the difficulties of producing and putting together such an enormous amount of wrought-iron work in so short a space of time as that required was considered an almost insuperable objection to the design. Large portions of the roof were to be covered with glass, so as to admit an abundance of light into the interior.

The accompanying views of the exterior and interior of this design, from the simplicity of the arrangement, consisting of a repetition of similar parts, require but little description for their elucidation.

[Illustration: Messrs. R and T. Turner's Design. View of Exterior from one end.]

[Illustration: Messrs. R. and T. Turner's Design. Transverse Section, and View of the Interior.]

MEMORANDUM ON THE SITE.

_Return to an Order of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated 1st July, 1850; for_

COPY of a LETTER addressed by the Commissioners of the EXHIBITION of 1851 to the Lords of the Treasury, inclosing Memorandum as to the Site of the Exhibition Building in Hyde Park.

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SIR,--I am directed by her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 to transmit to you herewith, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, a memorandum of the grounds on which the present site has been selected for the Exhibition, and of the proceedings that have been taken in consequence of that selection.--I have, &c.

The Right Honourable W. G. Hayter, M.P., &c. &c. &c.

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Memorandum of the grounds on which the site has been selected for the Exhibition of 1851, and of the proceedings which have been taken in consequence of that selection, prepared for the information of the Lords of the Treasury by the Royal Commissioners for promoting the Exhibition.

1. It is within the knowledge of the Lords of the Treasury, that from the time of the earliest announcement of the proposed Exhibition it has always been intended that it should take place in the Metropolis. Not only was such an intention matter of notoriety at the time that the question of issuing a Royal Commission was under consideration, but the Commission itself, when issued formally recited that it was proposed "To establish an Enlarged Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, to be holden in London, in the year 1851;" and it was to further the holding of such an exhibition that the present Commissioners were specially appointed.

2. Considering the importance of the undertaking, and the circumstances attending its promulgation, the selection of the Metropolis as its intended locality appears to have been both natural and proper. It will be borne in mind that the exhibitions which have from time to time been held in foreign countries have generally, and, as the Commissioners believe, invariably, been held in the capitals of the respective countries. In the present case it was peculiarly important that an undertaking which required the constant superintendence of a body of Commissioners, whose occupations for the most part confine them to London, should be carried on within their immediate cognisance, and not removed to a distant situation.

3. It being thus distinctly evident that the Exhibition ought to take place in London, it is further obvious that the actual site which may be selected for it should be within the precincts of, or in the closest vicinity to, the most central and accessible parts of the Metropolis itself. It need hardly be pointed out that it would be objectionable to impose upon persons who may have come to London from a great distance the necessity of an additional journey to visit the Exhibition; a consideration which has already been urged upon the Commissioners by the representatives of several of the most important provincial towns, who are apprehensive of the inconvenience to which artizans in particular might thus be subjected. Moreover, the removal of the Exhibition to any distance sufficient to diminish the number of visitors would not only militate against its essential character of general accessibility, but might most seriously affect the receipts upon which its self-supporting character must depend, a point upon which it appears that much stress has been laid.

4. Although Hyde Park, and even the particular space now in question, had been already mentioned before the issue of the Commission, and indeed so far back as October, 1849, as a probable site for the Exhibition, it is unnecessary to assure the Lords of the Treasury that the Commissioners approached the question of the site after their appointment without having in any degree prejudged the merits of particular localities. On the 14th of February, their attention having been directed to the importance of determining the site by the Committee then recently appointed for all matters relating to the building, they deputed two Commissioners, namely, Lord Granville and Mr. Labouchere, to wait upon the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and to confer with him upon the subject. The result of this conference is set forth in the Report presented by the Building Committee at the next meeting of the Commissioners (Feb. 21), of which the following is the portion which relates to the question of the site:--

"With respect to the site, it has appeared to your Committee that, firstly, the north-eastern portion of Hyde Park; secondly, the long space between her Majesty's private road and the Kensington-road, in the southern part of Hyde Park; and, thirdly, the north-western portion of Regent's Park, are the only available spaces about the Metropolis which would afford the necessary accommodation; and it is believed that the order in which they have been named represents also their relative eligibility. As regards the first, the Committee are informed by the Chief Commissioner of her Majesty's Woods and Forests, that considerable objections would arise to its occupation for such a purpose, and that no such objections would be raised to the use of the second; the Committee, therefore, recommend the adoption of this site, which, amongst other advantages, is remarkable for the facility of access afforded by the existing roads. Upon this occasion a letter was received from the Westminster Committee, stating that the local Commissioners for Westminster had visited the site in Hyde Park, and a site suggested in the Regent's Park, and that they were of opinion that the site in Hyde Park was the preferable one."

The recommendation of the Building Committee having been agreed to, a form of advertisement, requesting plans and suggestions for the building, was, at the next meeting (28th February), submitted for approbation, and was ordered to be immediately issued in the English, French, and, German languages. To this advertisement was appended a ground-plan of the site in Hyde Park for the guidance of those to whom the advertisement was addressed. The details of this plan were discussed in the presence of the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and were settled in conformity with his lordship's wishes.