The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-23 00:00:00

THE PAVILION

This building, in which the great dinner of the members
of the.society will take place on Thursday, is, though but
temporary, the largest and most unique that has ever beet
constructed in this town. It is on the vacant ground where
stood the Old Infirmary, in Lime-street, in part of which the
excavation for the New Court House has already commenced ;
and, from its magnitude and peculiar appearance, has for
some weeks attracted much curiosity and attention. The
architect is T. Wild. Esq., of London, and the general form
is that of a huge tent. In the exterior wall of wood-work,
it is a twenty-four sided figure, described equilaterally within
a circle ; it appears, and is almost in reality, owing to the
obtuseness of the angles, perfectly circular. The diameter is
171 feet—and the height of the outer, and only visible, wall
is 14 feet. The roof resembles that of a tent, rising to an
apex ; but with this difference, in order to obtain light and
ventillation, that there are between an outer circle and a centre
piece (both rising on the same angle) a succession of twelve
radiated risings, of the ordinary roof shape, the outer ends of
which form perpendicular gabels or pediments, which are
left open, with the simple protection of calico curtains or
blinds, to be drawn only in the event of the wind blowing in
any rain that may chance to fall while the guests are
at the banquet. As the centre circle of the roof
rests upon the ridges of these radiated portions
other similar triangular, but smaller, openings are left
between the slopes of this part of the rooffing, wi
curtains of same material, hanging lower down and forming
decoJative drapery. The opepings are therefore, in all twenty-
four in number, and admit an ample volume of light. The
covering of the roof is of immense large sheets of canvas,
prepared for the purpose, with composition or varnish of a
reddish hue, totally impervious to water, and nearly so to
light. The appearance of the structure is remarkable and
by no means unpleasiug ; though in the absence of what may
be called architectural decoration, we confess we should like
to see the Royal Standard of En land
that a flag in the middle
land floating from the cen-
tre. We may here, by the wa
of the Show Ground, and a smayller one at each corner, would
, add
show the extent of the area, and tend greatly to enliven the
general appearance of the whole.
The interior of the pavilion is of imposing extent, and
when peopled by the guests, with the numerous tables amply
furnished witn the good things of this life, the effect will be
magnificent. Within the outer circle or wall are two smaller
cicrles of pillars diminishing in diameter, supporting the roof.
These are so slender and so far apart compared with the ge-
neral extent of the building, (170 feet in diameter,) that they
form little or no obstruction to the view, and none to the
sound. Those of the centre circle are 3.4 feet in height ;
those of the inner 42 feet. The central portion of the roof
vesatilli,liN an immense extendt4 partiNif
rises, on a slight acclivity to its apex, 73 feet frera the ground,
anti strollgiv
Pikkr OW 119 I.:Plitffri