The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-17 00:00:00

DESCRIPTION OF THE PALACE.

Presenting a front to Merrion.square of 300 feet, the
main or centre feature of the elevation consists of a
semicircular projection, which forms the Eastern termi-
nation of the Central-hall. This is a noble apartment of
425 feet in length, and 100 feet in height, covered by a
semicircular roof upon trellis ribs, in one span of 100 feet.
On each side of the Centre-hall, and running parallel to it
for the same length, are two halls 50 feet wide, with
domed roofs, similar to that which covers the main nave
or hall of the building. The height from the floor to the
roof of each of these halls will be 65 feet. They are
approached through passages from the Centre-hall. In
addition to these three halls are four compartments of 25
feet wide, running the whole length of the building ; two
are placed between the Centre-hall and the lido balls, and
two on each side of the latter ; divided into sections of 25
feet square, forming convenient divisions for the purposes
of classification. Over these compartments are spacious
galleries, also running the length of the building, which
not only afford increased space for exhibition, but form
an agreeable promenade from whence the effect of the
three halls may be seen to great advantage. To the
south of the Central-hall, left of the spectator is a hall
devoted to foreign contributors ; adjacent to which is the
Fine Arts Court, corresponding in position to the Ma-
chinery Court. Branching off from the Fine Arts Court,
are the Antiquarian Court, refreshment rooms, and a
court abutting upon the yard of the Dublin Society,
usually occupied by farming implements. At the western
end of the northern court are extensive refreshment
rooms, with a fountain playing in the centre ; from these
a covered passage leads to the court-yard or Kildare-
street entrance to the Society-house. The northern and
southern courts have galleries running round them, from
which the spectator also looks into the Central Court.
The ceiling of the halls being divided into panels formed
by the trellis ribs, and the other constructive parts of the
building, has allowed ample opportunity for effective
decoration. Light is admitted from above in one un-
broken and equally distributed body. The construction
of the building is strongly marked on the elevation, and
forms in fact the ornamental character of the design.
There are also external galleries which are attractive
features in the exterior, forming a delightful promenade,
and which will be useful in providing access to the roof
for repairs, &c. The termination of each of the principal
roofs to the east and west is semispherical, giving
strength as well as effect to the building. There are
three entrances in the front facing Merrion-square,
under a range of verandahs, through which access is
provided for the holders of season tickets and the general
public. The materials of the building are iron, timber,
and glass. The latter are only used for light, as before
described. The parts of the roof at each side of the
lights are of timber, covered with Irish-manufactured
waterproof cloth. The trellis girders which support the
galleries are made of wrought iron, supported on cast
iron pillars. Ample accommodation in the way of re-
freshment, retiring rooms, offices, is provided in the
plan. Access to the building can also be had by the
spacious court-yard of the Royal Dublin Society, whose
suite of apartments, including the Museum, are open to
the public during the Exhibition. It has been calculated
that the available area of ground floor, galleries, &c.,
amounts to about 210,000 square feet, or little short of
seven acres, which will afford ample space, not only for
the goods sent in, but also for the free circulation of the
great tide of visitors. Altogether, the design, both in
point of its conception and its accomplishment, is in every
way worthy of the highest praise that can be bestowed
upon it. Mr. Benson, to whose genius we are indebted
for an architectural feat, of which even a Paxton might
justly be proud, appears to have forgotten the Crystal
Palace, and had the courage to think for himself ; and it
may be said that he produced a work not merely well
adapted to the purpose contemplated, but highly cre-
ditable to his artistic and practical character as an archi-
tect. It is a source of regret to us, however, that the
building does not stand on a more spacious site, where it
would not have been bounded by streets which com-
pletely block it from the view on all sides, except Mer-
rion-square, from the opposite side of which a fine view of
the edifice is obtained,—the splendid domes rising in
beautiful harmony with the quaint and stately mansions
around, and the whole effect being heightened by the
summer-like verdure in the centre of the square, where
there are numerous shrubs and trees. It is to be re-
gretted that the building was not erected in Phoenix
Park, which would have been a site truly worthy of the
splendid edifice designed by the now justly-famous Sir
John Benson.