The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-07-04 00:00:00

ST. AIDAN'S COLLEGE, BIRKENHEAD,

Fon several years past this college has been rising in
public estimation, under the principalship of the Rev. Dr.
Baylee, although labouring under a considerable degree of
inconvenience from the want of proper accommodation as
regards buildings. To obviate such inconvenience, means
have been successfully adopted for the erection of buildings
suitable in all respects for the purposes of the institution.
An eligible site has also been procured on which the
edifice is to be erected. This is situated to the rear of
Claughton Firs, between Forest-road and Shrewsbury-
road, and commands an extensive view. The edifice when
completed will consist of a quadrangle ; but, in the mean-
time, it is proposed to proceed with no more than the
principal or northern front, and portions of the east and
west sides. The building will be of the Tudor style of
architecture, containing in the centre the main entrance,
the principal's house on one side, and residences for the
students on the other. It is intended that the style of
the decorations shall distinguish the purposes to which the
different portions of the building are appropriated. The
hall, through which entrance is obtained by a decorated
door-way, is commodious, and is surmounted externally by
an ornate spire of unique design, in which a bell will he
hung. The apex of the gable is to be ornamented with
a floriated cross, a similar one being placed at the corres-
ponding end of the building. All the roof is high pitched,
and surmounted by a cresset ; and the facade will have a
pleasing effect, without too much elaboration.
The front of the building will command a fine view of
the sea, and the ground floor of the east wing will contain
the principal's house and the class-rooms. The west wing
will be appropriated to the masters' room, the refectory,
and the students' residences. The centre will embrace the
entrance hall, and grand staircase leading to the college
library and museum. The students' chambers will contain
thirty residences, and will be so constructed as to serve
both for sitting-rooms and reading-rooms ; but the dor-
mitories will be separate.
The remaining portions of the edifice will be constructed
when sufficient funds have been obtained to carry out the
plan in its integrity. When finished the college will
occupy an area of about 19,000 square yards, or nearly
four acres of ground, and will contain commodious resi-
dences for a large number of students.
This afternoon, at three o'clock, the ceremonial oflaying
the chief corner stone of the edifice will be performed with
due formality by the Most Noble the Marquis of Bland-
ford, and the other trustees and leading men connected
with the institution.

The architects are Messrs. T. H. Wyatt and Henry Cole,
and the contractors for the erection of the building are
Messrs. J. and W. Walker, of Birkenhead. The building
operations are being carried on under the immediate super-
intendence of Mr. Henry Cole.
St. Aidan's College is under the patronage of the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury and the following trustees :—The
Marquis of Blandford, M.P., J. Naylor, Esq., and J. Torr,
Esq. The principal, as already stated, is the Rev. Joseph
Baylee, D.D.