Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-22
FOR ENGLAND'S GREAT DEAD.
A Proposed Annex to Westminster Alb
hey.
From the London Daily Teles-ranb

From the London Daily TELEGRAPH
A correspondent writes that o proposal has
been made, and is likely to take practical
shape, for providing a Campo Santo' close to
the abbey for the scpulchres and memorials of
our great dead; in which case no further in
terments would be permitted in the abbey
Itself. The reason for this step being consid-
cred advisable is that not more than fifteen or
twenty burials can possibly take place there
Tor mere want of space. As regards statues.
Ihere Is room for at most three more-one
IN the northern transept, another near the
the west door as pendant to Lord Shaftes-
bury s, and the third elsewhere. Two busts
only can now be added; and it has been neces-
sary to place Mr.. Forsters memorial the
most recently set up, ont of the way in the
northern ambulatory. Mr.. Fawcett's. in the
baptlstery, Is in very dark place. and it is
impossible to the beauties of the work.
while Matthew Arnold's bust will probably find
a not very prominent position. These incon-
slstencles. 1t Is pointed out, are due to want OF
room. At the same time it is felt that the
soclatlons of the abbey as q national mauso-
leum. should be retained as far as possible.
Westminster Abbey as a place of memorial and
OF burial of distinguished Englishmen has ex-
erted powerful stimulus upon the national
character; and to many of our heroes 1t was
natural 10 lock forward to the abbey as their
last restlng-place. 1t must be remembered
that no country ill the world has such visible
record OF Its history. There is danger that the
continuity Of that history will be broken unless
pubic spirit averts it. for if nothing be done.
The abbey. in the old sense as a burial place of
worthless and sculpture gallery of the nations
heroes, must cease to exist
1t Is proposed to revive, in a modified form,
the scheme of the prince consOrt, which in
volyed the demolition of Abingdon street.
throwing open to view the ancient Jewel house
at the rear, and making splendid approach to
the houses of parliament. The precise extent
OF ground needed is not stated. Probably some.
or all, OF the seven or eight houses fronting
poets corner and old palace yard would have
to be acquired. These properties are in pri-
waite hands. and one of them has recently
changed ownership. On this site. connected it
might be with the abbey by cloister running
from poets corner, it is suggested should be
erected building to be called Victorian
chapel. Its architecture would be worthy of
It's surroundings and of its purpose. The fol-
lowing points are open to discussion: Whether
lnterments of public men should in a few
special cases be permitted in this chapel. or
whether these burials should be wholly dis
continued? In Lord Shaftesbury's case a pub
lie funeral was held, but the interment was
elsewhere, and memorial in the abbey has
been erected That precedent might con-
yenlentiy be followed. A second point to be
determined is the deSirability of removing
some of the cumbrous and disfiguring monu-
ments in the abbey to the chapel thus making
room for others in the abbey itself
The undertaking must if set on foot, be a
national one, because the dean and chapter
have no funds available