New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
KEYSTONES.
SOME CURIOUS SURVIvALS IN LONDON
ARCHITECTURE.

From The ST. James's Budget.
Keystones and keystone masks only TO be
found i'm classic neo-classic and Renaissance ar
checture by reason of the Gothic styles not using
ways ranging from early English to late Eliza
bethan have no prominent keystones woe, no-
Perhaps the best known and altogether most no
table keystone masks are those that decorate me
centre arch Of Henley Bridge The present bridge
was built in 1856 The mask facing up river Is a
head of Isis; that facing down stream represents ,n
are really admirable examples of the scuptor5
I Thg Sdy weT the Tic q Mrs.
who at that time resided at Park P , Gh, sSc
sss sxqsey ha be Pr, SIos s"s ss
h AnRa Ra eh the me credit lsS Of St piece
GS the ef nSz Ss Mrs Of
AL but amiable amateur She gave her worn
vaea arS Yet the recipients we're grateful wit
ness The bridge Minules rs '9ey do on tS se
the thanks Of the Commissioners DC given to the
Mt 1Gr 's she S and
sented to them for the Keystone OF the centre arch
There are several good examples OF scuptured
keystones in London. There - an elaborate &c
sign for nns With
Div his work II exhibits that widespread conyen-
Sn of the Sd ngfa ali Se City in
ferent positions Of usefulness; now as Keystone;
a ne~ decoration for fonts The Guidhall Museum
that ola podrida of London antiquities, IRON from
Jacobean carved freplaces-has TWO keystones IN
its crepuscuIar crypt. One came nom an ola house
in Patcrnoster Row. now demolished; II was the
keystone of q window Another. from the doorway
OF house in Spital Square, Is an example OF that
very debased art the domesticated keystone mask.
so TO speak There was at the END or last cent
ury and at the beginning OF this, quite classic
rage Buildings fondly believed TO be or classic de-
sign sprang up everywhere. and traces or that
fallacy are 10 be at this day, even in the un-
distinguished of what were at that time the
suburbs of London. Parts OF the Marylebone Road,
the Chaplain Road, the Old Kent Road. and many
streets of Remington and Brxton show this de-
based classicsm and many or tnese houses pear
the most part however. they are not sculpturcd.
They are OF, perhaps half q dozen different pat
terms and they nearly all cast in plaster from
a mould Also the woud-be classicism OF them Is
generally very dreadful TO look upon
A keystone that longer fulhls Its ONCE OF COM
plotting arch is to be seen In the shape OF n
grotesaue head built into the wall OF house in
Kings Cross Road, above singular tablet bear
the Pindar a Wakefeilde, 1880" The "Pndar Of
Wakeaeld' was the sign Of an old inn that stood
near here and took It's name from popul1r play
OF that title that written In the time OF Queen
Elizabeth. Bagniggc House. too, Is gone. and a'so
Bagnigge Wells that one-time fashionable sub
urban spa. , -,
There Is an archwav in the Renaissance style
leading into New Square. Lincoln's Inn. that has
a sculptured keystone on either side-gaping and
gloWering masks that look down with forbi1jng
aspect upon the barristers and solicitors. the at
torneys and clerks who pass beneath them oontinu-
ally ard from the law courts across the street.
Dour and threatening they are, and typical CT the
terrors of the law TO unsuccessful suitors, muct
I'm heavy costs, but never yet have pOrtenis, even
more insstent than these guardians OF the legal
nrenincts of Iincoin's Inn. dissuadcd the Gngry
and litgious Briton from rushing In where Oft
times lawyers fear 10 tread on ,her owe account