Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 290, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1913 — MONUMENTAL RELICS of ENGLAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONUMENTAL RELICS of ENGLAND

THE monumental relics of England are legion. There are many in London, but three of these are of transcendent historical interest, viz., the Tower, Westminster abbey and Westminster hall. When buildings have existed for centuries, the natural feeling is to take it for granted that they will live on for centuries more. But this easy-going faith has little foundation in fact, as all who have the care of ancient monuments know only too well. Old buildings require constant- attention and frequent reparation; but a time comes when something more is required, and we often hear with dismay of the faiP* ure of foundations in various parts of the country. Fortunately, owing to the remarkable progress of practical science, experts are ready to undertake the renewal of the strength of these foundations, if t’nier aid is not called upon too late. Great Timber Roof. The thought of any danger to the wondrous building known to us as Westminster hall, which was oroginally added to the palace of Westminster by William Rufus, is a severe shock to all who have seen Its beauty and know its remarkable history. It is an abiding record of most of the great events of history preserved in stone. Here it is not the foundations that are at fault. The walls of Rufus’ hall were raised on solid foundations and are sound, although the paving of the hall was placed on Thames mud. It is the grand timber roof, raised by Richard 11., that is decayed in parts, and urgently needs repair. The rods has been partially repaired at various times during its centuries of existence, and it has always been carefully inspected. Lately fears respecting its condition have been aroused, and the office of works has published a valuable report on the present condition of the structure. So far, this is' as it should be. The evil being recognized in time, we may be sure that proper means will be taken to place this noble structure in safety for many years to come. The glorious “hammer roof” is recognized as the finest example of the Gothic open timber roof in existence, and for this reason alone its preservation 1b a duty of the most responsible character. In the construction of this roof Irish oak (said to be abhorrenUto the spider) was used, and the workmen employed In inspection affirm that they have never seen a spider among the rafters. Tom Fuller refers to Its “cobwebless beams.” The causes of decay are: (1) The' work of the beetle (or, rather, the larva of the beetle or worm), which attacks the wood; “only where the timber has been honeycombed was there gny decided sign of decay” showing holes on the face of the beam. (2) Dry rot, “found chiefly where the timbers have been subjected to dampness. It has attacked the wall posts, particularly those at the northern end of the hall, where they are embedded in the wall and packed round with soft rubble. This danger was apparently foreseen by the skilled carpenters who erected the room, for originally a space was left between the wall posts and the wall to admit the free passage of air.” Much of the timber has become of a rich golden brown, the result of decay, but thla Is only on the outside, and most of the timber Is hard abd sound. The principal rafters have been extensively repaired at different times, and at one period the trusses were all systematically strengthened bv a series of wrought-iron tie rods. It Is supposed that the larger portion of the structure is sound. A thorough

examination of the whole by means of an extensive scaffolding will be undertaken. The report, already referred to, contains a description of the construction of the roof which was carried out on scientific principles by the skillful carpenters of the end of the fourteenth century—the craftsmen who stood at the head of the, ‘Wrights” of all classefe, and bore the honorable title of Wright pure and simple. A statement of the dimensions of the work is eloquent of the hugeness of the structure. “The Bpan of Westminster hall is 68 feet 4 inches, and the opening between the ends of the hammer beams is 25 feet 6 inches. The hight from the paving of the hall to the hammer beams is 40 feet; to the under side of the main collar beam 63 feet 6 inches, and to the ape* of the roof 92 feet.” History Little Known. The early history of Westminster is interesting, but unfortunately we know little certain about it. Sebert and the associations of the ancient kings with the place are rather shadowy, and we have little to build upon before Edward the Confessor. When the Normans settled. in England there were the two palaces, one at the Tower and the other at Westminster. William Rufus built his great hall on to the Saxon palace and “New Palace Yard” came into being. The adjective “new” forms a deceptive designation in many cases, but seldom so much so as in this name. The history of Westminster hall is of interest from its beginning, but in its completeness it dates from the last years of that unfortunate king, Richard 11., who ordered the construction of the noble roof, and considered this as the greatest work of his reign. The original hall was vastly different from that now existing and consisted of a nave and two aisles. At Pentecost (April 10), 1099, William 11. held his court for the first year in his new building at Westminster. In the following year he was shot in the New Forest. Westminster hall was the principal seat of the Aula Regia or Curia Regis, which also accompanied the king on his travels. Henry 11. is said to have attended personally in his court, as did later kings until James Interfered so far as to need Sir Edward Coke’s caution “that he was not competent to decide questions of law.” On New Year’s day/1236, the occar sion of Queen Eleanor’s coronation and the entry into London of Henry 111. and his queen, the king caused poor men, women and children to be entertained in the hall and in other rooms of the palace. One of the first great public events in the history of the hall was the trial of Sir William Wallace in 1305. He was taken there on August 23 on horseback and placed on a scaffold at the south end with a laurel crown on his head in mockery of what was said to have been his boast that he would wear a crown in that hall.