The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-12

vidlnE IL into three widths. The CEN
tral space between the posts was prob
dOiy about thirty feet; the side a sizes
being about twenty feet wide ArcAd-
ing stretched along the whole length
of the east and west walls of the nail.
The original roof lasted till The
time of Richard IL, and the fact that
ne retained the old walls, after they
mad stood for 800 years, proves tn at
the mechanics OF Rufus time were no
mean craftsmen. Richard was a man
OF splendid tastes in architecture as
In other things, and set his build srs
the problem of designing a roof that
should span the hall In one leap in
stead OF three. Owing to the new
principles which were introduced by
Richard ii, in his magnificent roof, 1t
is very difficult for engineers to make
an analysis OF the stresses. which are
much more complicated than in the
ordinary tie-beam roof.
That the repairing OF the roof has
not been undertaken before necessary
is also proved by the fact that the
ridge piece has dropped, with the gem
eral detection of all the timbers, a
maximum OF eighteen inches. The
purlins have detected from six to
eight inches under decay, and the
great hammer beams under the load
OF the posts have detected from ten
TO fourteen inches.
1t would be difficult to pay too high
a tribute to the skill. ingenuity and
courage with which Sir Frank Balnes
has met and overcon6s the many and
almost overwhelming problems that
have. presented themselves in the
course of the work, for 1t has been his
i'm 90
destroying an inch more than is neces-
sary OF the old timber or robbing it
of any of its mellowed charms. in
this he is succeeding admirably.
How Job II Handled.
Limits of space prevent US from
describing the details OF the work,
which would. moreover. be too tech
meal; but by the courtesy OF Sir
Frank we are able to give the follow
ing brief outline of his treatment.
His method of reinforcement is to
superimpose on the old timber a steel
truss, capable of sustaining the whole
load. The design has beePn dictated
by the necessity for following the
lines of the roof, the truss also fol-
lowing the timbers in their distorted
lines. without IN any way altering
the roof as IL existed before the
treatment. Each steel truss, there
fore, differs from the other, thus com
plicating the work to an enormous
extent. Wherever possible the steel
reinforcement is kept out OF sight.
By the method adopted the inser-
ton OF new oak has been reduced to
the smallest minimum possible and
the whole of the molding and carved
work throughout the roof have been
saved. The carving of the twenty-six
angels. which face each other from
the extremities OF the thirteen ham,
is on the grand scale, the
artist obviously having had on his
mind the height from which the carv-
ing is viewed.
The heraIdic novices on the shields
are much more finely carved. the
CT aftsman OF those days being a con-
scientious artist who finished his work
OF time, even though the
details might not be seen from below.
The hall in early times was probably
lighted by huge hambeaux or oil dish
lights suspended from the hooks
which still remain on the hammer
beams and. by candeIabra ranged
down the hall, or in. wall brackets. In
the soft light OF the thousands of
wax candles with which tire hall was
Illuminated at later coronation ban
Duets and other feasts the carving
would be seen in all its richness and !
beauty. |
Wonderful COIOrIaE.
A distinctive feature OF the roof is
the wonderful golden brown tone OF ,
the coIorings OF all the original tim !
fungOid growth to be due to a minute |
fungold growth on the surface owing !
10 imperfect ventilation. The color is !,
apparent even from below. but from
the scaffold Il is seen to be Of a most /
richness. In no other /
roof, to Sir Frank Baines' knowledge. !
has this color been APPARENT, and that /!
4 should be retained under the condi- |
tons OF our modern London atmOs- |