The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-24 00:00:00

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

In The Sun of Monday was given the, Report of the
Lords' Select Committee on the Rebuilding of the Houses
of Parliament. The following is the interesting appendix

thereto attached :
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE SELECT COM-

MITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON THE REBUILDING
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
The LORD PRESIDENT in the Chair—Die Martin,
Bth Martii, 1836.
CHARLES BARRY, Esq., examined.
The Committee understand that you have prepared a
statement of the principles by which you have been governed
in preparing the plans now under the consideration of the
Committee ?—I have.
Have you that statement with you P—l have.
Will you deliver it in ?
The witness delivered in the following statement :--
PRINCIPLES BY WHICH MR. BARRY HAS BEEN GOVERNED
IN MAKING HIS DESIGN FOR THE NEW HOUSES OP PAR-

LIAMENT.
STYLE.--That of the styles proposed, Gothic or Eliza-
bethan, the former, of the Tudor period, is preferable, as
being homogeneous, well defined, and in harmony with the
existing ancient buildings proposed to be preserved ; where-
as the latter is only an incongruous mixture of two styles,
in their decline ; thus being utterly unworthy of the cha-
racter of a great national edifice as a work of art, besides
being at variance with the character of the existing
buildings.
ANCIENT BUILDINGS.—Thai the Hall, the Crypt of St.
Stephen's Chapel, and the Cloister and Chapels attached to
the late Speaker's residence, be preserved, and converted
to useful purposes, and that St. Stephen's Chapel be rebuilt.
POSITION or PROPOSED BUILDING.—That the building
be set forward to the east into the river, in order to obtain
an enlargement of the two palace-yards, and thereby mak-
ing them spacious quadrangles ; and that the line of iron
frontage be made as nearly as possible at right angles with
Westminster-bridge, which it will be seen by a reference to
the official plan of the site is but effected by a line drawn
directly from the extremities of the frontage.
ENTRANCES.—That the entrace to the Commons, and
the principal public entrance to both Houses, be in New
Palace-yard, and that the King's and Peers' entrances to
the House of Lords be in Old Palace-yard, in order that
a material portion of the great influx of people attending
the Houses may be arrested at the nearest point—
namely, New Palace-yard, and that the entrance into
Old Palace-yard be freed from unnecessary obstruction.
PUBLIC AccEss.—That, for the greater convenience of
approach for the public generally, entrances be made at the
south end of Westminster Hall from Old Palace-yard, and
at the old entrance of the House of Commons, opposite
Henry the Seventh's Chapel.
RIVER ENTRANCES AND TERRACE.—That private en-
trances to the Houses be made from the river, and a private
terrace provided for the recreation of Members of both
Houses.

EXTERNAL APPROACH.—That, in order to widen as
much as possible the entrance into Old Palace-yard, the
footpath which is at present in front of the Italian
building, containing the Law Courts, be placed in a
cloister within such building, which will not only allow
the whole width between its south-western angle and the
Abbey to be given up to a carriage road, but also pro-
vide a covered walk from Old Palace-yard to New Pa-
lane-yard, which, it is presumed, will be found of great
convenience for alighting from and entering into car-
riages, and advantageous as a sheltered walk for persons
having to wait in the neighbourhood of the Houses.
ENCLOSING EAST END OF NEW PALACE-YARD.
That the cast end of New Palace-yard be closed by the
river front, in order to shut out from Westminster-bridge
an unfavourable view of Westminster Hall, the Abbey,
&c., produced by viewing them so much above their ground
level ; also, for preventing cold draughts of air from the
river, which would render the Quadrangle an unfit place
for horses to be kept in waiting ; also for shutting out an
unsightly view of the bridge as seen from Parliament-
square, and the Quadrangle itself ; and, lastly, in order to
avoid the necessity of occupying the property on the east
side of Abingdon-street, the fee simple of which alone
would not be of less cost than from 70,000/. to 80,000/.
ELEVATION AND CHARACTER OF RIVER FRONT.—That
the river front be lofty, and as little broken as may be de-
sirable to avoid monotony ; that the lower or ground story
and terrace be as simple and solid as possible, in order to
accord with the plainness of the bridge, and form a bold
base to the building ; and that the superstructure only be
of a decorative character ; so that the building may present
a lofty, imposing, and ornate appearance when viewed from
Westminster-bridge.
ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION.—That all the entire
mass of building forming the houses and adjuncts be treated
in its architectural composition as a single edifice, for the
sake of unity, public character, and effect, and that towers
be placed at the extreme ends of the proposed mass of
building, in order that it may group with the abbey, &c.
and have an imposing effect when viewed with that build-
ing. That the details of the river front he large, and those
of the other fronts small, as the former can only be viewed
from a distance, whereas the latter will be subject to a much
closerinspection.
PALACE-YARD FRONTS.—That the fronts towards New
and Old Palace-yards, and Parliament-square, be kept as
low as is compatible with the height of the river front,
in order not to reduce the importance of 'Westminster
Hall, which must necessarily be a very essential feature
of the proposed mass of building when viewed from the two
Palace-yards.
APPROACHES GENERALLY.—That the several internal
approaches for the King, the Lords, the Commons, and the
public, be distinct from each other, and easy of communica-
tion when desired.
KING'S ENTRANCE.—That the State entrance for the
King be from the south-eastern angle of old Palace-yard,
through a tower, proposed to be of sufficient size to receive
the State carriage, which is intended to set down at the
foot of a flight of steps of considerable width, leading to a
landing hall and gallery, communicating with the King's
robing-room at the back of the throne end of the House of
Lords. The upper part of the tower to be appropriated to
records.
PEERS' ENTRANCE.—That the private entrance for
Peers be direct from Old Palace-yard by means of a flight
of steps communicating with a large private lobby, afford-
ing access to the House, either at the throne or bar ends ;
and that a distinct approach be provided for the Bishops
from a quadrangle east of the House to their dressing
rooms, and thence into the House at the throne end, on the
opposite side to the entrance for the lay Peers. That a
water entrance be also provided, to communicate directly
with the lobbies and corridors adjoining the House.
CommoNs' ENTRANCE.—That the private entrance for
the Members of the House of Commons be direct from
New Palace-yard by a flight of steps, communicating with
private lobby at the bar end of the House ; and that a
water entrance be also provided for their accommodation,
communicating with the private lobby alluded to, and the
corridors adjoining the House.
IPueLic ENTRANCE.--That Westminster Hall be the