Part 9 (1/2)

Another circumstance which points to the saularity of the ground-plans of many of the city churches This is observable in the case of churches which from their dedication or other reasons may be pronounced of Saxon foundation

[Illustration: ALLEY NEAR THE CLOTH FAIR, SMITHFIELD]

The econo of space was effected in tell-marked directions

Houses and shops were erected on old London Bridge, and half-tiely built in the city There is an excellent representation of old London Bridge with its closely packed houses in Robert Prycke's bird's-eye view (here produced)

It may be well to add a word or two here to explain what is implied by the ter soue

There are, in fact, several different interpretations as to its significance Oneof ”half-timber” is trunks of wood split in half; but this is usedOne writer states that half-timber work is so called ”because the timbers which show on the face are about the same width as the spaces between”

Gwilt describes a half-ti, with sills, lintels, struts, and braces, sometimes filled in with brick-work, and plastered over on both sides” Parker defines a half-tiround floor only of stone, the upper part being of wood” With these different definitions there is no wonder that popular ideas as to what a half-timber house actually is are rather hazy

The point of most importance, however, is not the mere verbal explanation adopted in technical handbooks, but the characteristics of this kind of structure, differentiating it from those built up from the foundations of one species of material, such as stone, or brick, or what-not

The following arded as the essential features of half-timber houses or timber-framed houses (for the terms are practically synonymous):

(1) The foundations and the lower parts of the walls, soround-floor s, are of stone or brickwork Above this the house is a ti parts are concerned, whatever may be the character of thespaces are filled

(2) In old buildings of this kind each range or floor waswhat are technically teres of this kind of construction were reater diround floor It also imparted structural balance, and afforded a convenient opportunity of strengthening the whole structure byor over-sailing storey tended to shelter from the weather the storey below it The principle of over-sailing storeys was entirely due to the use of timber in house construction

(3) Perhaps the chief distinguishi+ng mark of half-timber construction is that the bases of the walls are always constructed of round; whilst the upper part, co the main body of the house, is constructed of dry tied as to be free froround to be injured by the dalo-Saxon houses, which are believed to have been timber-built structures, were probably not furnished with foundations and dalls of stone or brick, and for that reason their destruction, by the dah the interstices of the timbers, was rapid and complete

The use of half-timber work in the construction of London houses indicates a desire to reatest possible use of the space at the disposal of the builder The repeated use of over-sailing storey above over-sailing storey indicates quite clearly that the idea was not to obtain structural stability so much as additional space

[Illustration: THE CLOTH FAIR, SMITHFIELD

_Looking to the south-west, and showing the south side of the street_]

There is no aspect of the ancient city of London more picturesque than this constantstoreys, and perhaps there was no more unwholesome or insanitary plan possible than this, which effectually excluded daylight and fresh air, keeping the streets da the whole atmosphere unsavoury Indeed, the constant visitations London received in the form of pestilence is to be referred to this source alone; and ret the loss of the picturesque old houses, with their projecting storeys, their irregular gables, and their red roofs, it s London ever received, in the direction of sanitary ireat bulk of the wooden houses in the City

After the fire, the original arrangeeneral direction, was restored, but of course they were made wider and more commodious Indeed, it is not difficult to make out much of the course of the ancient wall from an examination of the disposition of the streets as they now exist Such well-hfares as London Wall, Wormwood Street, Camomile Street, Bevis Marks, Jewry Street, Houndsditch, Minories, and others indicate, internally and externally, the course of the wall, and at soate, actual fragments are still visible As has already been explained, the wall is mainly of Roment _in situ_ es

In the wholesale destruction wrought by the Great Fire so much perished, and, as a consequence, so much was rebuilt that one looks in vain for a specimen of a mediaeval house constructed of ithin the bounds of the city It is because of this that Crosby Place, a do of the fifteenth century and of the hly valued, not alone by antiquaries, but by all who love mediaeval London

Until a comparatively recent date there were soate These were examples of the type of house erected immediately after the Great Fire Others, somewhat less picturesque, still reroup of timber houses, presumably of about the same date, exists in and immediately adjacent to the narrow street at Sh they present no particular feature of architectural roup of old wooden houses with over-sailing storeys and picturesque gables The street, by reason of its very narrowness, looks old, and, notwithstanding the various reparations and rebuildings which have been carried out at the Church of St Bartholoes which have been carried out in the neighbourhood, the Cloth Fair remains to-day a veritable ”bit” of old London as it was pretty generally in the seventeenth century

The accoraphs, represent the general appearance of the houses, although it is so like a clear picture in such a dark and narrow street

A little way out of the City we have the res of Staple Inn; and in the Strand, near the entrance to the Teroup of wooden houses, one of which, popularly called Cardinal Wolsey's Palace, has been rescued from destruction, thanks to the action of the London County Council