General Building News from the United Kingdom

Introduction

The article is titled General Building News and it appears in the 26 April 1902 issue of The Builder, a weekly journal of architecture and building. The article reports on various building projects and events that took place in different parts of the United Kingdom during that week. Some of the main topics covered in the article are:

The reopening of Inchinnan Parish Church in Renfrewshire, which was renovated by Dr. Rowand Anderson at a cost of between 15,000l. and 20,000l. The article describes the features of the new choir, central tower, transepts, vestry, and organ chamber. The nave is to be reconstructed on the site of the old church.
The opening of a new United Free Church Hall at Scotstoun in Renfrewshire, which was designed by Mr. J.B. Wilson and can seat over 400 people. The article mentions the contractors and the cost of the building.
The opening of Caversham Road Church in Reading, which was designed by Mr. W.G. Lewton in Perpendicular style and built with red brick and Bath stone dressings. The article describes the interior fittings and furnishings, including the pulpit, communion-table, choir-stalls, organ, and electric lighting. The cost of the church was about 5,500l., for a seating capacity of 516 people.
The erection of a new mission-room at Pentonville near White Lion Street by Mr. A.E. Collins for St James's Church Clerkenwell Road. The article describes the style and materials used for the building, which has a three-light window with traceried head, an entrance porch, and accessory accommodation.

The article is intended to inform readers who are interested in vintage building news and developments across the country. It provides details on various aspects of construction, such as design, style, materials, cost, and contractors. It also gives some historical background and context for some of the buildings, such as their previous state or purpose.

General Construction Updates

Inchinnan Parish Church, Kenfrewshire

Inchinnan Parish Church, was re-opened tor public worship on the 12th inst. The renovation of the church is being carried out at, it is stated, a cost of between 15,000l. and 20,000l., Dr. Rowand Anderson, of Edinburgh, was entrusted with the work of carrying out the scheme. The portion of the building which was opened on the 12th inst. consists of a choir 22 ft. in length, a central tower 22 it. square internally, north and south transepts, and a vestry, with organ chamber above. The nave is to occupy the present site of the old church, and its reconstruction will be gone on with immediately. The central tower when completed will rise, including its open crown termination, to a height of 125 ft. The choir contains a five-light window in the gable, filled with stained glass, while there is also a two-light window in the south wall. Each of the transepts has also been fitted with three-light windows in the gables. Angle buttresses appear at all the corners. he ceilings of the choir and transepts are pointed in sections and divided into compartments by moulded ribs. The choir floor is laid with black and white marble, and the floors of the transepts with smaller squares of stone, filled in with oak block flooring. The walls are lined up to the height of 5 ft. from the floor with oak veneer.

Hall, United Free Church, Scotstoun, Renfrewshire

A new United Free Church Hall has been erected at Scotstoun. In view of the future erection of a church, the new hall is placed at the northern end of the site. The front gable faces the street, and has a large three-light window with traceried head lighting the end of the hall. The entrance porch is placed at the side, with a moulded doorway leading into an inner vestibule. Seating is provided for over 400 persons, and there is accessory accommodation in vestry, session- house, kitchen, &c. The total cost will be about 2,000l, The building has been erected from the designs of Mr. J. B. Wilson, Glasgow; the principal contractors being Messrs. W. Gordon & Co. for mason work, and Mr. Thos. Brown for wright work.

Caversham Road Church, Reading

The opening of Caversham Road Church, Reading, took place on the 9th inst. The building is Perpendicular in style, and built both externally and internally with red brick end gallery divided from the aisles by an arcading of stone columns: The pulpit, communion-table, and choir-stalls are in carved oak, with an organ, built by Messrs, Bishop & Son, detached from the pulpit. The architect was Mr. W.G. Lewton, of Reading. The total cost, including organ and electric lighting, is about 5,500l., for a church seated for 516 people.

Mission Church, Pentonville

A new mission-room has been erected at the rear of 90 and 91, White Lion-street, Pentonville. The new building, with its gymnasium crypt, has been designed by Mr. K. A. Briggs, of Norfolk Street, Straud. The walls externally are faced with red brick, the windows and doorways having dressings in bath stone.

More Construction Highlights

WESLEYAN SCHOOLS, Basford, Staffordshire— The Basford Wesleyan School Chapel, erected as a preliminary to the church, schools, and minister's house, was opened recently. The entire scheme comprises school, manse to be created in twelve months, and the church in several years. Mr. W. F. Slater, of Burslem, whose plans were accepted in competition, is the architect. The building has been erected by Mr. J. H. Broadhurst, builder, Burslem, for 1,255l., and heating arrangements are by Messrs. W. Truswell & Son. Of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the wrought ironwork by Mr. Durose, of Tunstall.
Proposed Church, Handsworth, Birmingham—It is stated that the anonymous donor of a site in the Handsworth New-road, Birmingham, for a church, parsonage, and Sunday schools, has now added to this gift by promising to build the church outright, subject to certain conditions. The preparation of the plans has been entrusted to Mr. Bidlake.
WESLEYAN CHAPEL, CASTLE Town, Durham— The dedication services of the Victoria Memorial Wesleyan Chapel, Castle Town, on the north side of the Wear, took place on the 19th inst. The new building, which is of brick, with freestone dressing is situate in the Hylton Castle-road. The style adopted is Gothic. The sitting accommodation is for 250, and the heating is by hot water. The architect is Mr. G. G, Kirkby, of Sunderland. and the work has been carried out by Mr. R. M. Storey of West Boldon, the contractor.
Primitive Methodist Chapel, Bradford—The foundation-stones of the new Primitive Methodist Chapel which is being erected at Daisy Hill, Bradford, were laid on the 19th inst. The new chapel will be constructed of local stone, the style being Gothic. The principal dimensions will be as follow: Length 75 ft.. width 42 ft. (insic: measurement), frontage 50 it., and front elevation soit. The front will face Smith-lane, looking towards Bradford, and at one corner there will be a small stone tower surmounted by a lead-covered spire. There are to be vestries tor minister and choir, and a classroom or church parlour, and the building will also have a horseshoe gallery and an organ chamber, the latter situated behind the pulpit. The roof will be of open timber work, and the internal fittings will be of stained and varnished pitch pine, while the windows will be filled with leaded cathedral glass. Seating accommodation will be provided for about 500 persons. It is estimated that the building will cost about 2,000l.. The architect is Mr. T. E. Davidson, of London, whose plans were chosen in competition.
CHURCH, NELSON, LANCASHIRE—The new St. Philip's Church, Nelson, bas just been consecrates The site is situated in Leeds-road. between St. Philip's-street and Wyclitie-street, the entrance gates being at the two street corners. The styles Early English. All the inside fittings are of pitch pine. The tower will contain beliry, mngins chamber, and cloakroom. It will rise to a height of 90 ft., and will be surmounted by a smail spireiet and flagstaff. A baptistry has beea formed, ane the interior of the nave and aisles are divided int» four bays. The choir and clergy vesiries are artanged with separate entrances, and in the form of a transept on the south, which corresponds with a similar one opposite for the organ. With respe. to the chance! floor, it is of marble m sag in various colours. The passages, the nave, and asc are of red tiles, with ornamental borders (ne pulpit is situated on the north side is of effective design. The font, in the centre ot te west wall, stands upon a platiorm of Catiow stone The plans were prepared by Mr. BK basanett Preston, of Manchester. .
SCHOOLS, HIGH FELLING, DURHAM—The Falla Park-toad Schools, recently built by the Hewort® School Board at High Felling, were opeacd oo te t4th inst. The builaings are in two separate 5) ks one being a junior and the other an infants sho" accommodating 320 and 260 children respective A The site contains two acres, and space is reserve' at the southern portion for the erection at some future time of a mixed school. The schoo!s are built on the central-hall principle, with classrooms around, together with cloakrooms. aod rooms for teachers. A caretaker's house of five rooms has been constructed at the south-west corner of the site, and is in electric communication with the teachers' rooms in the school buildings. The whole of the buildings externally are faced with Sherburn bricks, internally up to the window level with Normanby glazed bricks. The architect is Mr. H. Miller (Felling), and the contractor Mr J. W. Braithwaite (Heaton).
BOARD SCHOOL, GATESHEAD—A school for about 750 is now in course of erection at Kelvin-grove, Gat . and a junior department for more than 90 scholars has just been opened for the reception of scholars at Victoria-road. The new school isa one-story building {intended fur children in the lower standards), consisting of six classrooms and a large central hall. Separate entrances and cloak- rooms are provided for boys and girls, and the cen- tral hall is 40 ft. by 26 ft., having a hammer-beam roof, the timbers being dressed and varnished. Four classrooms accommodate sixty each, and two are for forty. Tae work has been carried out from the plans of Mr. W. H Dunn, who designed the original buildings. Mr. Thos. Hunter, of "Washington, was the contractor The sub-con- tractors were Mr. Thos, Rule, plastering; Mr. Chas. Nicholson, slating; and Messrs. Allinson & Son, plumbing. The hot-water apparatus was supplied by Messrs. Richardson & Co., of Darlington.
SCHOOL, ATHERTON, LANCASHIRE—A new infant school has been erected at Howe Bridge, Atherton. It has been erected on a site adjoining the old schools, The new school is of one story, and pro- vides accommodation for nearly 300 children. It consists of a large schoolroom, a babies' room, and two classrooms, to all of which access is obtained érom a central corridor. ‘Some alterations have also been made in the old techool. Mr. Isaac Taylor, of Manchester, was the architect for the new building.
CHURCH DAY SCHOOLS, WINLATON, DURHAM—The Winlaton Church Elementary Schools were opened on the 5^th inst. The schools, designed by Mr. J. H. Morton, of South Shields, and built by Mrs. M. A, Armstrong, contractor, Blaydon Bank, are situated at the junction of West-lane and Scotland Head. The structure consists of one room, 70 ft. by 22 ft., and divided in the centre by sliding partitions, making one compartment for eighty girls and another for eighty boys. Alongside of this isa classroom atiording accommodation for fifty children, and also an infants' school providing accommadation for too scholars. At each end are separate cloakrooms—one for boys and the other for girls. The building is heated with low-pressure hot-water pipes and radiators. The large toom isso arranged as to be suitable for parochial purposes also. The school is a stone building.
BANK, DUNFERMLINE—New bank buildings for the Clydesdale Kank, Limited, are to be erected in High-street, Dunfermline. The ground floor is to be used as offices for the Bank, and immediately above will be chambers. The new buildings will have a frontage of go ft. to High-street. Messrs Baird & Thomson, Glasgow, are the architects.
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY BUILDINGS, BELFAST.—The site of the Fisherwick-place Church, recently demolished, has been acquired, and upon ita new Assembly buildings is to be erected for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The structure and site will cost some fo,cool., Messrs. Young & Mackenzie are the architects.
THE CAMPBELL HOSPITAL FOR BANFFSHIRE— The Building Committee of the board of the Joint Hospital for Infectious Diseases for Lower Bantt- shire, to whom was remitted at the board's first meeting consideration of the plans for the Campbell Hospital, met at Portsoy on the 1th inst. Pians prepared by Mr. Kelly, architect, Aberdeen, were laid before the committee. After the necessary approval has been given, the architect was autho rised to proceed with the preparation of the work- ing plans and specifications, and to advertise for tenders to be submitted to the Building Committee, and then to the Joint Hospital Board.
BUILDING SCHEME, WHITLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND—Preparations are being made to commence building operations on what is called the Whitley Links Building Estate. The land is on the north side of the village, and is really in Monkseaton, It 18 proposed to build soo houses. all of which will be seli-contained. In the centre of the estate a 4o ft street, running from west to east, is to be made. In a line with the street is to be a bandstand. Other Streets running north and south will have a 25 ft camtiageway and shrubberies on either side. These are to be named after south-country watering places, such as Ventnor-gardens, Ilfracombe - gardens, Sournemouth-gardens, and the like. Messrs. Hope & Maxwell are the architects.
PROPOSED NEW READING ROOMS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, ABERDEEN—The report by the Building Sub-Committee recommends the adoption of the plan by Messrs. Brown & Watt, architects, for the new central reading room at the library, showing a new feading room with an area of 4,350 square feet, a reading room for ladies on the upper floor, with an area of 3,450 square feet, and an addition to the reference department of 600 square feet. The estimated cost is 5,300l., apart from furniture, outside stone balustrade, and the cost of heating and ventilation. The estimated cost of the branch reading room at Torry, for which the same architects are preparing plans, is 1,500l.
NEW WAREHOUSES, MANCHESTER—The contract for a new refrigerating warehouse in Miller Street, Manchester, has been let to Messrs. R. Neill & Sons, contractors, Manchester. The building is eleven-storied and contains all the usual requirements for cold storage. It belongs to the Colonial Consigament and Listributing Company, London, ot which Sir EK. Montague Nelson is chairman. The elevations of this new building are composed of red brick and buif terra-cotta. The various contracts in connection with the erection of a new iron storing-warchouse, Trafford Park, Manchester, for Messrs. Hall & l'ickles (of Manchester), have just been let. The building covers about 8,c00 = yards, and is mostly a steel-work erection. The building, which is a store for iron girders, joists, bars, rods, &c. faces on to the Ship Canal Docks, and bas railway facilities into the building itself. The architects of both buildings are Messrs. Chas. Heathcote & Sons, Manchester.
BAPTIST SCHOOLEKOOM, KALHAM.—A new schoolroom in connexion with Kamseden-road HEaptist Church, Balham, was opened recently. The building is 45 ft. wide by 5: ft. long, is capable of accom- modating between yoo and soo persons, is heated on the low-pressure hot-air system, is lighted artificially with gas and incandescent burners, and has been erected at a cost of, including fittings, about 2,000]. by Mr. Walter Wallis, from the plans of Messrs. \W. E. johnson and H. J. Capelli, the joint architects. There are iour exits, two retiring- rooms, and a platform
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, CLYDEBANK—The Clyde- bank Municipal liuildiogs, which have just been completed, are situated on the south side of Dumbarton-road. The various departments are com- prised in two separate blocks, the larger of the two covering an area of 224 by 122.0, with two frontages, and including the burgh Offices, Town Hall, and Lesser Hall, Library and Keading-room, Burgh Court-room, Police-station and office, and police-inspector's house. The main entrance to Burgh offices is placed in the ceatre of the Dum- barton-road front, which leads to the entrance hall and staircase. The following offices are embraced in the area—namely, T own-clerk's vflices, Fiscal's-room, Rates-citices, and sanitary department. On the upper floor is placed the council chamber. The weat part of upper jioor includes committee-rooms, Provost's room, and Master of Works' offices. To the east of Lbumbarton-road front an entrance leads to the Burgh Court-room, which measures 34 ft. by 22, which has adjoining rooms for male and female witnesses, with lavatory conveniences; and at the end of the courtroom is the magistrates' retiringroom. On side street a separate entrance leads to the lesser hall, which accommodates between 400 and 500 people. The position of the lesser hall is such that it can be used as a refreshment-room in connexion with the great hall. The great hall is 100 ft. long and 50 wide, exclusive of recess at gallery, and accommodates about 1,500 people. The roof is elliptical in shape, formed with ribs and panels. A feature in the hall are galleries which are entirely supported on cantilevers, no supporting columns being used, and the entire tivor is thus left perfectly free of obstruction A wide corridor runs the entire length of one side of the hall, into which the Various exit deors open. Ciloakrooms are provided for ladies and gentiemen. which are available tor both the smaller and great hall. Tne thirteen in number—are all finished internally with white enameiled brick. Oa the opposite side of the road are placed the public baths, fire station, and firemen's houses. The baths combine a swimming bath, 50 ft. by 25 ft. and male and female slipper baths. The fire station bas stable and tower for fire hose, engine-room, &c. The buildings are heated on the plenum system. The buildings are lighted by electricity throughout from a generating plant situated in the basement of the building. Externally the building is treated in the Renaissance style, the leading feature being a tower rising to a height of 120 ft, and surmounted by a bronze-winged ngure emblematic Progress On the tympasum and front gables are placed groups of statuary emblematic of Commerce and Engineering, and over the main doorway is placed the arms ot the burgh The work was designed and carried out under the superintendence of Mr James Miller. architect, Glasgow.
BUSINESS PREMISES, NORWICH— Messrs. Curl Brothers, Limited, have just opened new premises which have been erected tor them in Ortord-place at the back of their Rampant H orse-street buiiding by Messrs. Scaries iiros., from plans prepared by Messrs. E. Koardman & Son. The extension con- sists of basement, ground fi or, and first and second floors, all communicating by pitch-pine staircases with the corresponding floors of the Rampant Horse-street block
SCHOOL ENLARGEMENT, Marsden, Yorkshire&mdashThe foundation-stones have enlargement of the Town's school at Marsden The architect is Mr. J. E. Lunn, of Milnsbridge The building will accommodate 400 children
THEATRES, HALIFAX—A new theatre, to be called the Alexandra Theatre, is about to be erected by the Northern Theatres Co., Ltd., and is, in ettect a reconstruction and enlargement of the present old Riding School. The buiiding will consist, on the ground-floor of orchestra-stalls, pit-stalls, and pit; on the next tier is the dress-circle, and above that there will be amphitheatre and gallery. The total seating accommodation is for 1,600, while the standing-room provided will hold another 500. Every portion of the house has a separate entry and double exits. Each tier has saloon, crush-room, and lavatories. The main entrance is from Commercial-street, at the St. John's-lane ond. The architects are Messrs. Jackson and Fox, of Halifax.
A company has been formed to acquire a freehold site on the Wards End Estate, and to erect thereon the new Palace Theatre with a number of shops and suites of offices over. The theatre will be erected from plans prepared by Mesers. Ernest Runtz & Co., which have been approved by the Improvement Committee of the Halifax Town Council. It will be erected at a cost something like 20,000l., and will have »seating capacity for 2,000.
Addition to Ladie’s College, Edinburgh—At the Edinburgh Dean of Guild on the 10^th inst., the Governors of George Watson's Hospital were granted a warrant to build a new wing to George Watson's Ladies College in George square. The new wieg of the school, whea compicted, will form a special department for the teaching of technical, scientific, and artistic subjects, and will be specially fitted up with work tables, sludge sinks, fume closets, stille, furnaces, and Bunsen burners, and will have all sorts of apparatus for experiments in mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism. acoustics, optics, &c. The present dwelling-house, No George-square, will be demolished to make room for the new wing, which will be four stories in height, the three upper floors being devoted to physics, chemistry, and drawing respectively. The ground or basement floor wiil be devoted to a large luncheon and recreation room The plans have been prepared by Mr. Peter L. Henderson, architect, Edinburgh.
Business Premises, Clifton—On the 14^th inst. the new buildings which Lennards, Ltd.. have built at Queen's-road, Clifton, were inaugurated. The area of the new buildings is practically balt an acre, and the floor space occupied by the company is roughly an acre andahali. On the lower level, or basement, are placed the firm's stables, packing, receiving, and delivery rooms, with two electric goods lifts communicating with the floovs above; adjoining are cellars, portions being occupied by heating plant, and other parts for use with shops over, with lavatories to each lined with white glazed bricks. At the junction of Triangle West and the new road to be known as Lennards'road are the staircase and entrance for the workmen, of fireproof construction, and near by the haulirg way to the courtyard. The company's own retail shop on the ground floor bas a frontage of 72 ft. to the Oveen's- road, and is 19 ft. high. Arches divide the shop from the ladies' fitting-room, which has three stained glass windows, containing the arms of some of the principal cities and towns in which the company have branches. The floors are of marble mosaic, and ladies' and gentle- men's lavatories are provided for the use of the customers. At the junction of Park-place and Queen's-road, under the tower, is the principal entrance to the offices and depot of the company. The entrance vestibule is paved and lined with marble and vaulted, aod leads to the staircase, executed in Soanish mthogany and East Indian teak. On the first foor are the company's offices, board-room, and the private room of the managing director. The rest of this floor is devoted to the storage of stock, as also is the entire area of the second and third floors. The whole ct the building, ncluding those portions to be let, is lighted by electricity, and warmed by low-pressure steam. The piers on the ground tioor and plinths are of polished red granite, and the whole of the facades towards (ueen's-road, Triangle, and Park-place are faced with freestone. The architect was Mr. H. Dare Bryan. Mr. T. Cawsey has acted as clerk of works from the commencement.
Post Office, Rishmond, Yourkshire—The foundation stone of the new post office at Richmond has just been laid. There will be of two stories, comprising the post office, dwelling-house, and private offices and shop. The post office will be at the corner, and will include a large sorting room, 46 ft. by 26 ft. Mr. Bruce, of Newcastle, is the architect, and the builder Mr. G. R. Wade, of Richmond.
Volunteer Rifle Brigade Premises, Edinburgh—New buildings for the Queen&asp;s Rifle Volunteer brigade are to be erected in Edinburgh, The old premises will be taken down and new buildings erected ntaining on the ground floor an armoury with workshop, stores, staSung ft Service wagons, the orderly and the adjutant's room The first floor, the ofhicers' quarters, rooms fot company medical n room, and a gym- The second floor is given over to the non-commissioned officers and to men, for whom are provided mess, billiard, recreation, and reading-rooms, with service-rooms and lifts to kitchen, which is placed on the top floor. The third floor contains a lecture-hall seated { persons, with retiring-rooms, &c,a band-room, and accom da- tion for the quartermasi!er 3s Stores, (he caretaker 3 house being on the attic c The buildings have been designed in the Scottish Baronial stvie The plans have been prepared by Messrs. Cooper & Taylor, architects, Edinburgh.
Medical Institute, Belfast—On the 12^th inst. the foundation-stone was laid of the proposed new Medical Institute for Belfast, in College-square North. The building will be entered by an outer and inner porch leading to a reception hall, which is divided from the library by a stone arcade filled in with glazed folding doors. These rooms cover the front portion of the ground floor block for questionable cases, the administrative floor, at the back of which is the staircase) and private consulting-rooms, with the usual acces-| three male sick pavilions, cottages for engineer and sories. The first floor is occupied by the lecture} hall, above which, on the top floor, is a billiard-' mortuary, and workshop group, The = sick room. librarian's quarters, kitchen, serving-rooms,! pavilions are connected to the administra- &c. The front of the building facing College-square tive blocks with covered ways. The total North consists of Scrabo rock-faced ashlar and! number of beds provided for is 300, about sixty Dumiries red sandstone dressings, and presents a | to each pavilion, but should circumstances require it frontage of 45 ft. to the street, by about 46 ft. high} the number can be added to by the erection of to the top of the parapet, with a gable in the centre. | another or more pavili na, the administrative por- The work has been entrusted to Mesers. M‘Laugblia | tions of the infirmary being built on a tcale to admit & Harvey, builders, who are carrying it out under | of this. -Each pavilion is a two-story building, and the eu sion of the architect, Mr. William J Fennell, of Belfast.
ASYLUM, SCALEBOR PARK, BURLEY-IN-WHARFEDALE, YORKSHIRE—The West Riding County. Council are erecting at Scalebor Park a new lunatic offices have been provided as follows:—Ward asylum for the accommodation of private patients.| kitchen, with sink, range, larder, &c., bathroom, The main buildings, which will cover in all an area) lavatory, with station for bath on wheels for of about 64 acres, are constructed somewhat in the} patients unable to use bathroom, linen-room, day- shape of the letter E, with two additional project room for convalescents, slop-sink-room, and the tions at the rear, comprising the acute blocks. The usual sanitary accommodation, the latter being in front entrance, leading to the administrative block, has a large porch, with glass reof and circular | frame, which will be transformed into a kind of conservatory. The entrance-hall— 32 it. by 20 ft. 9 in—and connecting corridors, which are laid with mosaic pavement, are flanked on each side with doctory offices, waiting-room, receiving-room, assistant medical officers' messroom, dispensary, porter's room, and telephone office. On the right is the principal staircase to the first floor, on which are the assistant medical officers' parlour, board-room, and corridor, from which open bed- tooms and bathrooms,: The main building in the rear is connected with the entrance block by a main connecting glass corridor, so arranged that any part of the building can be reached without going out of doors. Kunning at right angles to this main con- necting corridor is another corridor, joining the infirm and acute blocks. Parallel with it is a re- creation hall, 78 ft. long by 36 ft. wide, at one end tion, was opened on the 15th inst. The new in- firmary buildings consist of the following groups of blocks, maternity block, two female sick pavilions, steward, and the laundry, boiler-house, stab'e, the whole five contain wards of varying sizes, from twenty-four beds to three beds each. Each pavilion is provided with two staircases, and wide balconies for convalescents' use. On the floor of each pavilion detached sanitary towers, approached from main ae by means of enclosed bridges. The pavi- lion halls are provided with lifts for food, coal, &c., and they and the corridors are heated by hot-water coils, and the wards with central down draught hot-air ventilating stoves with large open fires. The walls throughout are finished with adamant plastering painted. All corners of rooms, ceilings and floors are rounded. The maternity block has provision for eight beds on one floor The administrative department contains accom- modation for the ccmmittee of management, the medical superintendent, the assistant medical officer, the matron, chaplain, porter, and servants generally, kitchen department, with lardert, messrooms, &c. Steward's department, with large general store (two story), nurses' dining and c rooms, matron's office, store, and sewing-room, dispensary, anesthetic operating- rooms, reception wards, and clothes stores for of which a stage and music gallery will be fitted up, with two dressing-rooms in the basement. From the main corridor there are side corridors— 168 ft. to the dining-room, kitchen, stores — 47 ft. by 20 ft—and nurses' messroom on the ground floor, and dining-hall, housekeepers' pantry, attendants' uarters, bathroom, lavatories, &c.. on the first oor. The recreation hall is continued to the roof. The sick and infirm blocks and the acute blocks for males and females are practically identical, the only difference being that on the female side there isa large recreation hall—47 ft. Gin. by 22 ft. Gin — with large bay windows, whilst on the men's side a similar space is used as a smoke and billiard room. Oa each side of the entrance to the sick and infirm viocks are sitting-rooms, 19 ft. by 18 ft. Parallel with the front runs a large corridor—from which branch smaller corridors—ic6 ft. long, by means of which the rooms in these blocks are approached. There is a dining-hall—24 ft. by 30 ft.—four bed- 1ooms, with bathrooms and other conveniences. Over the sitting-rooms on the first floor are two drmitories, and smaller bedrooms over the re- mainder of the building, with the exception of the recreation hall. The second floor is almost a replica of the first, the rooms being utilised for nurses' quarters. The acute blocks are approached by similar corridors to those already described. There is an entrance at each end, between which are three sitting-rooms 25 ft. by 20ft. Behind these is a main corridor, 192 it. long, in which are recesses or "ingle nooks," 15 ft. by 6ft. At right-angles with themain corridor runs a shorter one—1 2 ft. long— along the side of which are the dining-hali—20 ft. by 18 ft.—and a conservatory 18 it. by 14 ft. The second floor is almos: identical with the first, with the exception that bedrooms are substituted for the dining -hall, and on the second floor there is the usual accommodation for attendants. The whole of the building is of stone from local quarries. It has been designed by Mr. J. Vickers Edwards, West Riding County Surveyor. The contractor for the principal blocks is Mr. Isaac Gould, of Leeds, One or two minor works have other floors in pitch-pine boards. Most of the joiners' work in the administrative block is of pitch- nd in the other blocks of red wood. The doors are also of the latter material, and the doors of white wood. The whole of the roofs red ~ we ag residence, situate at nee from main .building, is on the north-east side. The building aamuadines have superintended by Mr. G. W. France, Burley, who has acted as clerk of the works.
INFIRMARY, SHIRLEY WARREN, HANTS—A new infirmary, erected by the Southampton Incorporation, was opened on the 15^th inst. The new infirmary buildings consist of the following groups of buildings: entrance lodge, nurses' home, observation block for questionable cases, the administrative blocks, maternity blocks, two female sick pavilions, three male sick pavilions, cottages for engineer and steward, and the laundry, boiler house, stable mortuary, and worship group. The total number of beds provided is 300, about sixty to each pavilion, but should circumstances require it the number can be added to by the erection of another or more pavilions, the administrative portions of the infirmary being built on a scale to admit of this. Each pavilion is a two-story building, and the whole five contain wards of varying sizes, from twenty-four beds to three beds each. Each pavilion is provided with two staircases, and wide balconies for convalescents' use. On the floor of each pavilion offices have been provided as follows; Ward, kitchen, with sink, range, larder, etc. bathroom, lavatory, with station for for bath on wheels for patients unable to use bathroom, linen-room, dayroom for convalescents, slop-sink-room, and the usual sanitary accommodation, the latter being in detached sanitary towers, approached from main ae by means of enclosed bridges. The pavilion halls are provided with lifts for food, coal, etc., and they and the corridors are heated by hot-water coils, and the wards with central down draught hot-air ventilating stoves with large open fires. The walls throughout are finished with adamant plastering painted. All corners of rooms, ceilings, and floors are rounded. The maternity block has provision for eight beds on one floor. The administrative department contains accommodation for the committee of management, the medical superintendent, the assistant medical officer, the matron, chaplain, porter, and servants generally, kitchen department, with larders, messrooms, etc. Steward's department, with large general store (two story), nurses' dining and cloak rooms, matron's office, store, and sewing-room, dispensary, anaesthetic operating rooms, reception wards, and clothes stores for male and female patients, &c. The Nurses' Home is a detached three-story building. and gives accommodation for about thirty nurses, probationers, etc.; it provides a small bedroom for each nurse, and contains, in addition, a general sitting-room, lecture-room, assistant matron's bed and sitting-room, small kitchen, bathrooms, &c. The home is not intended to provide dining accommodation, as all meals will be taken in the dining-rooms provided, adjacent to the kitchen of the main buildings. The laundry has been fitted with machinery for washing purposes by Messrs. Bradford & Co., and all the engineering work in connexion with the heating, hot-water services, steam and gas cooking, &c., has been executed by Messrs. Haden & Sons, Trowbridge. The buildings throughout, as well as the roads, are lighted by electricity. The electric plant was designed by Mr. J. G. W. Aldridge, of Southampton, and put in by Messrs. Lankester & Sons, Limited. The general contractor for the whole of the work, exclusive of electric lighting and the laying out of the grounds, but inclusive of the engineering and laundry work, was Mr. H. Cawte, of Shirley. The architects were Messrs. Mitchell & Gutteridge, of Southampton.
SCHOOLS, BARROW-IN-FURNESS—At a meeting of the Barrow-in-Furness School Board, held on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., tenders were accepted from local builders for the enlargement of the Cambridge-street Schools, Barrow. The work comprises taking down an existing schoolroom and boys' cloakroom, and erecting a central hall, 65 ft. long by 31 ft. wide, three classrooms, boys' cloakrooms, and Headmaster's room, and the asphalting of the boys' and girls' playgrounds. The total amount of the accepted tenders was 2,488l. 6s. 6d. The architect is Mr. Henry T. Fowler, Barrow.

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