PTJG I N S L O TV D O X HENRY G-. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENIT GARDEN Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/seriesofornament00pugi_2 A S E R I E S OF ORNAMENTAL TIMBER GABLES, FROM EXISTING EXAMPLES IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE, OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. DRAWN ON STONE BY B. FERREY, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A. PUGIN, Architect; WITH DESCRIPTIVE LETTER-PRESS, BY E. J. WILLSON, Architect, F.S.A. Sbecontr lEMton, IlmprobH). LONDON : HENRY G. BOHN, 4 YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. M.DCCC. XXXIX. LON DON : PRINTED BY MOYES AND BARCLAY, CASTLE STREET, LEICESTER SQUARE. LIST OF PLATES OF TIMBER GABLES, Title. Dormer-window of Ford’s Hospital, Coventry. Plate I. Fronts of Bond’s and Ford’s Hospitals, &c. do. II. Gable in Bond’s Hospital, do. III. Ditto in ditto, do. IV. Ditto in ditto, do. V. Ditto in ditto, do. VI. Ditto in ditto, do. VII. Ditto in Ford’s Hospital, and Ornaments in Bond’s Hospital, do. VIII. Ditto in ditto, do. IX. Ditto in ditto, do. X. Ditto in ditto, do. XI. Ditto in Wells Street, do. XII. Ditto in ditto, do. XIII. Ditto in ditto, do. XIV. Ditto in Bayley Lane, do. XV. Ditto in ditto, do. XVI. Ditto in ditto, do. XVII. Ditto in ditto, do. XVIII. Ditto, &c. in ditto, do. XIX. Ditto in Hay Lane, and Bracket in Bayley Lane, do. XX. Ditto in Butcher’s Row, do. XXI. Ditto in Leicester Hospital, Warwick. XXII. Ditto at New Brentford, Middlesex. XXIII. Ditto at Rochester. XXIV. Ditto at Eltham Palace, Kent. XXV. Ditto, ditto, do. XXVI. Ditto at Abbeville, France XXVII. Ditto, ditto, do. XXVIII. Ditto, ditto, do. XXIX. Ditto, ditto, do. XXX. Ditto, ditto, do. INTRODUCTION. It seems remarkable, that whilst so many elaborate works have been published on the architecture of the Middle Ages, but little attention has been given to edifices constructed of timber and plaster ; since many examples of this mode of building may justly claim our admiration, both for the ingenuity of their con- struction, and the richness and beauty of their decorations. Before the great fire in 1666, the citizens of London almost universally dwelt in houses of this description. Most of those which escaped destruction at that period have since been pulled down and rebuilt ; whilst those that remain exhibit scarcely any traces of their proper ornaments :* but it would be as unfair to estimate their original appearance from the decayed and mutilated skeletons we now behold, as it would be to judge of the personal beauty of the past generation from the decrepit and wrinkled survivors with whom we are acquainted. The preference of timber-work instead of masonry, in the con- struction of houses, is apt to excite our surprise ; but circumstances peculiar to former times were thought sufficient to justify the choice. This was particu- larly the case in towns which were circumscribed by walls and gates, as those places which enjoyed commercial prosperity were crowded with inhabitants, so that every contrivance was used to gain as much internal room as possible. On this account houses framed of timber were found the most convenient, as the thinness of their sides, and the successive projections of the upper stories beyond the lines of the ground-floors made such houses much more capacious than those built with walls of brick or stone. Some curious examples of this sort of fabric are found in the city of Coventry, from which most of the follow- ing subjects have been selected. The roofs of these old-fashioned dwellings * “Smith’s Antient Topography of London,” 4to. 1810, contains some very clever plates of these old town-houses. The best subjects are of a mixed style, enriched with grotesque carvings, and details of Italian architecture. 6 INTRODUCTION. were commonly raised in high and narrow ridges, divided by gutters of lead, with the ends turned towards the streets. Hence the gables became very pro- minent, and were often enriched with bold and elaborate carving. From the decay of their materials, or the caprice of the possessors, few specimens remain complete ; and the finials or pinnacles which crowned the points of the gables have generally perished, excepting some of a later and inferior style. The forms of these houses were extremely irregular, varying in height and projection according to the taste of the builders, or their means of expenditure. Those of wealthy persons often included a court surrounded by a spacious hall and other rooms and chambers, with a gateway towards the street in front. The irregular outlines of these buildings gave to our old streets a picturesque effect unknown amidst the tame uniformity of our modern fabrics ; but, in general, they were narrow, crooked, and badly paved. The construction of houses framed of timber and plaster was not confined to towns ; for so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth the greater part of country mansions was of a similar fabric. We are told by William Harrison, a clergyman who assisted the historian Holingshed with an account of the manner of building and furniture in Britain, published in 1577, that “ The auncient manors and houses of our gentlemen are yet, and for the most parte of stronge tymber. Howbeit, such as be lately buylded are commonly either of bricke or harde stone, their rowmes large and stately, and houses of office farder distant from their lodgings.” The solidity and strength of some of these timber fabrics have preserved them to the present time ; and the halls at Ockwell, or Ockholt, in Berks;* those of Little Milton, Lambsbury, &c. in Lancashire ; Bagilly, Bramhal, and Moreton, &c. in Cheshire ; with many others, more or less perfect, still exhibit interesting specimens of the style of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, which deserve a more complete illustration than they have yet received.f The imitation of this sort of building in recent times has been generally confined to small villas, or lodges attached to parks. Some fashionable watering places have also been embellished by picturesque cottages, decorated in this style. But, unfortunately, the slightness of the fabrics, and poverty of their ornaments, or the extravagance of their pretensions, in many instances, have * See “ Lysons’ Magna Britannia,” 4to. vol. i. f “ Dr. Plot’s History of Staffordshire,” folio, 1686, contains some good plates of timber houses in that county. See also “ Atkyns’s History of Gloucestershire,” and the prints engraved by Burghers, Kip, and Samuel and Nathaniel Buck; also “ Ormerod’s Cheshire,” and the Topographical Works of the Itev. T. D. Whitaker, who has given a valuable dissertation on old domestic archi- tecture in his “ History of Whalley, in Lancashire.” INTRODUCTION. 7 made them quite contemptible. The mere outlines of tracery cut in their deal boards, painted of some gaudy colour, bear no true resemblance to an antient work carved in massy planks of oak, relieved with proper mouldings. And a roof covered with smooth blue slate can never correspond with gables decorated in the style of the fifteenth or sixteenth century. To make such imitative fabrics satisfactory, the materials should correspond with those used in antient examples ; and the style of construction and ornament ought to be faithfully worked, even to the smallest details ; otherwise nothing will be produced but caricatures, rather than copies of these interesting pieces of antiquity. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. Plate I. — In this plate the fronts of three buildings in the city of Coventry are represented, all of nearly the same date, the early part of the sixteenth century. No. 1. The first is a small dwelling of a neat, cottage-like character: the gable is of good design, and retains its original ornaments, with the exception of the pinnacle on the top which is entirely wanting. The windows were probably adorned with tracery, in a similar style to the other examples, though they are now plain ; and the door-case and other parts seem also to have been stripped of their proper mouldings. No. 2. Is an elevation of part of the front of Bond’s Hospital, from whence several of the succeeding plates are also taken ; particularly Plate IV., which gives the small gable in this front, and Plate VI., which shews the large one adjoining to it. JSsjfitl’SS was founded a.d. 1506, by Thomas Bond, citizen of Coventry, who had filled the office of mayor in the year 1497. He endowed it for the maintenance of a priest, ten poor men, and one woman. The chaplain was to preach and celebrate divine service before the brethren, and to pray for the souls of the founder and his family, and of all the faithful departed. This institution was dissolved as a chauntry in 1547 ; but the corporation of the city shortly afterwards procured its restoration from the young king, Edward VI., and it has ever since continued to exist under their patronage, and has been considerably increased. About fifty years subsequent to Mr. Bond’s foundation, a free-school for the instruction and support of poor boys was established by the city in some adjoining buildings, which school has since been enlarged by the benefactions of different persons. The whole of this institution is usually called Bablahe Hospital from the name of a more antient religious foundation, to which the church of St. John was attached. The buildings surround a court, the north side being formed by the apart- ments of Bond’s Hospital, from which the subjects of several of the following plates have been selected. B 10 DESCRIPTION OP THE PLATES. No. 3. JfortTs' iJOSlptCclI was founded by Mr. William Ford, citizen of Coventry, in the year 1529, for the support of five poor men and one woman. This institution was afterwards so much improved by other charitable persons, that the number ol its inmates has been increased to twenty-one. This is commonly denominated the Grey Friars’ Hospital, from its being situate close to the ruined convent of the Franciscans or Grey Friars. The buildings of this hospital enclose a narrow court into which the habitations of the brethren enter ; and the whole has been well preserved considering the length of time which has elapsed since the foundation. This charitable foundation fortunately escaped the rapacious hands that seized on such an immense mass of the patrimony of the poor a few years afterwards. The design of this front is very nearly regular, and presents an interesting specimen of domestic architecture, without the least pretensions to grandeur, but sufficiently decorated with proper ornaments to relieve it from the appearance of meanness. The windows of the above two hospitals are well deserving of notice, for the variety and elegance of carved work which adorns them. The mullions are of much lighter substance than those of windows formed with stone, and the mouldings are proportionably smaller. The principal divisions are adorned with little buttresses, and the lights are decorated with perforated tracery, of various patterns, similar to the screens in the churches of the same age. Those in the chambers project forward, so as to allow of the placing one light in each side, by which the inhabitants might look out towards the right or left hand. The bottom of these windows was flat on the inside, and was set at a proper height from the floor for persons within the rooms to rest their arms upon it ; the windows in the houses of rich people being formerly furnished with cushions for this purpose. In the construction of these buildings each story was framed separately, and afterwards taken to pieces, and put together again on the proper site. The walls, if they may be so termed, were made up of studs framed in parallel lines, and grooved on the edges, the inter- mediate spaces being filled with plaster, forming altogether a solid mass about four or five inches in thickness. Many houses of great size were framed in this manner, before bricks became cheap and common, and oak timber grew scarce, for the inhabitants, not only of towns, but for the residence of knights and esquires on their own estates ; and many such mansions may yet be found, especially in Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, though very few now remain in perfect preservation. Plate II. — This belongs to a dormer-window in Bond’s Hospital ; it DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 11 resembles that shewn in Plate VII. in the general style; and, like it, has lost the upper end of the pinnacle. The lower part of this ornament is shewn separately on an enlarged scale. Plate III. — Is taken from another dormer-window of Bond’s Hospital. The two little shields on the tie-beam are sculptured with the armorial bearings of the founder. The pinnacle is totally gone. Plate IV.- — The small gable here represented is attached to another of much larger size, in front of Bond’s Hospital, as is shewn in Plate I. The tracery is of an elegant pattern, but does not unite well with that of the larger gable, which is very different. The top of the pinnacle is wanting. Plate V. — The gable here shewn belongs to a window of Bond’s Hospital, and exhibits another variety of sculpture. Plate VI. — This gable belongs to Bond’s Hospital, at Coventry, and adjoins to the smaller one represented in Plate IV. The tracery is of a neat pattern, though not so elaborate as that on the smaller gable. There is no pinnacle on the top, and perhaps never was. The tie-beams are enriched with foliage, and three of the massy studs which form the front of the gable are embellished with slender pinnacles. Plate VII.— No. 1. This gable is situated on the west side of the court of Ford’s Hospital. The top of the pinnacle has perished, which destroys the termination of the whole design, complete in other respects. The section of mouldings, on the right hand, shews the form of the cornice that connects the different parts of the court. No. 2. These two details are parts of Bond’s Hospital. Plate VIII.— This belongs to the central window in the chamber-story of Ford’s Hospital. It resembles the preceding examples from Bond’s Hospital, and is very richly carved. The pinnacle has been cut off both at the top and bottom, to the great injury of the general effect; the other parts remain perfect. Plate IX. — Displays another gable from the same hospital, of similar style to the preceding, but enriched with different patterns of sculpture. It faces the interior of the court, and the returns of the cornices are shewn on each side of the gable. 12 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. Plate X. — Is a most elaborate specimen of enriched style, selected from Ford’s Hospital, where it covers a projecting window of the upper story. It is to be lamented that so prominent a feature as the central pinnacle should be mutilated, the other parts being of most elegant design. Plate XI.— Represents a gable in front of a house in Wells Street, which retains much of its ancient style uninjured. The whole of this work is deserving of attention, for the neatness of the ornaments, to which nothing is wanting but the pinnacle that originally terminated the apex. Pi .ate XII. — Gable in Wells Street. The tracery that decorates this gable is very delicately carved and perforated, the lower points being guarded by continued fillets. A singularity is observable in the turning of the little arches of the tracery, to accommodate them to the oblong quatrefoils which are inserted in the middle of each larger arch. A section of the upper part has been placed on the left hand of the elevation. Plate XIII. — This gable belongs to a house in Wells Street. The tracery on the sides is of similar pattern to that shewn in Plate XIV. Plate XIV. — From a house in Bayley Lane. This example is of a plainer character than the preceding ones, but is neatly designed, in the style prevalent about the middle of the sixteenth century. The pinnacle is entirely taken away. Plate XV. — From another house in Bayley Lane, is a neat example of enrichment, without much boldness. From the remains of the pinnacle, it seems to have been erected about the time of Queen Elizabeth, when a different style of ornament began to prevail. Plate XVI. — Shews another example of the same date and style as the preceding one ; with ornaments more decidedly borrowed from Italian archi- tecture. It is also taken from a house in Bayley Lane. Plate XVII. — The tracery on this gable bears a considerable resemblance to that shewn in Plate XII., but has had a pinnacle in the centre, which is quite lost, whilst the gable in Wells Street seems never to have had such an ornament. The gable in Bayley Lane has been removed from the corner of St. Mary’s Hall, and in putting it up after the removal, the right DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 1 0 o position of the tracery was unluckily reversed, so that the two lower points are now joined together at the top ; but the design is here restored to its original form. Plate XVIII.— No. 1 . The tracery on the sides of this gable is of similar pattern to the examples shewn in Plates XIII. and XIV., with slight variations. The pinnacle is modern, and of a mean style, unsuitable to the sides. No. 2. Displays some rich tracery carved on a story-post which originally belonged to the buildings adjoining to St. Mary’s Hall, part of which were removed in order to give a better view of the hall and its oriel-window. That venerable edifice appears to have been erected in the reign of Henry VI., and this fragment is probably of the same date. Both subjects of this plate are now in Bayley Lane, Coventry. Plate XIX. — No. 1. The gable here represented belongs to a house in Hay Lane, Coventry. It is beautifully designed, and retains the cusps of the tracery entire. The rest of the front is not worthy of particular notice. No. 2. Represents one side of a bracket supporting the projecting corner of a house in Bayley Lane. It is sculptured in relief with considerable taste. Plate XX. — The tracery that ranges along the sides of this gable is designed with much taste ; and the manner in which it unites with that on the adjoining one is particularly to be admired. It is taken from a house in Butcher’s Row. This, with all the preceding examples, has been taken from buildings at Coventry. Plate XXL — A very elegant example of perforated tracery is here given, from a gable in the hospital at Warwick, founded by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the celebrated favourite of Queen Elizabeth. But the style of ornament evidently belongs to an earlier period, and this part of the building is perhaps a remnant of the Gild of St. George, a religious institution dissolved in 1547, which antiently occupied the site of Leicester’s Hospital. Plate XXII. — Gable at New Brentford, Middlesex. The fret-work on the sides of this gable is very elegant, and belongs to the last period of the Gothic or pointed styles, as practised in the latter part of the fifteenth and the earlier years of the sixteenth century. 14 DESCRIPTION OF TIIE PLATES. Plate XXIII. — This specimen belongs to the same period as the preceding one. The pattern of the ornamental work is similar to some already described, and is of a very good style. Plate XXIV. — Gable at Eltham Palace, Kent. This subject is taken from part of the royal palace at Eltham, now mostly in ruins, and converted into a farm-stead. Only a small portion of the ancient lodgings is now remaining, which stands near the great hall, and seems to be a part of the buildings erected by Edward IV. or Henry VII.* It has three gables in front, joined together, and edged with fretted tracery of nearly the same patterns. The pendent in the centre probably was carried up into a pinnacle above the ridge of the roof, though nothing of this is now seen. The projection of the roof over the front is very bold, as is here shewn in the section. Plate XXV. — Gable at Eltham Palace, Kent. This gable is joined to the one shewn in the preceding plate, as well as to another of similar style. Plate XXVI. — Gable of a house at Abbeville, France. In the ornaments of this building there is a mixture of styles, similar to what is observable in English buildings of the age of Queen Elizabeth. The introduction of Roman or Italian architecture into France took place in the early part of the sixteenth century, and appears to have been adopted more speedily there than was done in this country. The houses of the French towns were generally constructed of timber, and a great proportion of dwellings of this description still exists. This building, undoubtedly, was erected in the sixteenth century. The images represent different saints. Plate XXVII.— This is another gable from a house at Abbeville, carved with a diversity of ornaments, but of similar style to the preceding one. In this building the studs and braces of the framing are left uncovered, whilst in that shewn in the former plate the plain frame-work is entirely ceiled over with plaster ; a fashion seen in England in the later class of timber houses. Plate XXVIII. — Gable at Abbeville. In this gable the mixture of Italian ornaments is not so plainly observable as in those already given from the same town ; yet it appears to be of the same date as that in Plate XXVI., from See the “ Examples of Gothic Architecture,” First Series, by the late A. Pugin, Architect. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 15 the similarity of the tracery running on the sides of the roof. This appears to be formed of two slender branches bending over each other alternately, in waving lines, and studded at regular intervals with buds or short thorns. In the former example, the spaces formed between the branches are filled with flowers; in this they are pierced and left open. Four small statues are carved on the timbers, of which that in the point of the gable wears the mitre and other insignia of the episcopal order. Plate XXIX. — Gable at Abbeville. The scroll, and other ornaments, that are carved in this front, are decidedly of Italian style, resembling those shewn in Plates XXVII. and XXX.; and considerable taste has been displayed in their application. The windows of this, and the other subjects taken at Abbeville, are of mean forms, unsuitable to the rich ornaments that surround them. Plate XXX. — This building is situated in the same town, and exhibits another specimen of the mixed style ; the scrolls and other ornaments being borrowed from Italian architecture, but applied to structures of very different character. The top point is finished by a crest of metal, forming a sort of garland ; and on the central post are two figures of saints carved in wood. The profile of these ornaments is given in the section. Title. — This plate is taken from Ford’s Hospital, at Coventry, and represents one of the chamber-windows with the gable of the little roof that covers its projection. The pinnacle has unfortunately been cut off, both at the top and bottom. The lower end undoubtedly finished with a pendent ornament somewhat similar to that shewn in Plate II. How the upper part terminated cannot be exactly ascertained, as all the gables have lost this ornament. It is probable, however, that a carved figure of some animal [as a lion or bear], holding a banner, was set on the top of each pinnacle; or they might be finished with a little embattled canopy and a crocheted finial.* * The collegiate church of St. George, in Windsor Castle, was originally surmounted with many such figures, though they have fallen to decay, and been removed from the pinnacles. Some examples are yet remaining at Hampton Court, and other buildings of the same date, — See “ Pugin’s Specimens of Gothic Architecture,” vol. ii. PI. I. and II. THE E N D. LONDON : — MOYES AND BARCLAY, CASTLE STREET, LEICESTER SQUARE. G- _A_ ~£> i '£ S m. 7. VTT.LS S TR-F.T. 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