Manchester Cathedral Restorations: South Porch

RESTORATION OF MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL. - We are happy to be able to record further progress in the restoration of Manchester Cathedral, particularly as the new works will tend to improve the inside of the building, which hitherto has been so much neglected. The South porch internally has been for many years in a very unsatisfactory condition. By usage it has become the principal entrance, from the fact perhaps that owing to the exposed situation of the Cathedral, the west and north entrances, when used, prove too draughty and cold. Externally this south porch has been restored, and is very ornamental in its design. The part adjoining is now in course of restoration, and will in a month or two be completed. The state of the interior has therefore forced itself upon the attention now more than it has ever done before; the old porch doors with their covering of dirty cloth, and the old porch framing, designed in the worst of all styles, form a wretched contrast to the rich stonework of the exterior, and, what is perhaps worse, have failed, even with the additional protection of the heavy red curtains within, to prevent the admission of draughts, that render the sittings near the entrances in the highest degree uncomfortable. The old gallery stairs placed near this entrance and constructed in the same debased style as the porch, but even less ecclesiastical in character, must have offended every eye that has looked upon them since the day of their erection half a century ago. The galleries (that at the best are blemishes from an architectural point of view) are here so heavy and unsightly, that we cannot help wondering at the indifference of those who have looked upon them Sunday after Sunday through so many years without making some attempt to improve their appearance. We have no doubt that the architect for the restorations, and indeed every other architect would advocate their entire removal, and it is a pity this cannot be effected; but there are almost insurmountable difficulties in the way—deficiency of accommodation without the chance of extension on the one hand, and private rights to pews and pew ownerships that would require thousands of pounds to purchase on the other hand; so that the churchwardens have at present no alternative but to make the best they can of the existing galleries, either by alteration or by entire reconstruction. To remove the objectionable features we have noticed, and to further secure the comfort of the congregation, the Dean and Canons and church- wardens conjointly have instructed their architect, Mr. Dawes, to prepare designs and enter into contracts for the construction of new entrance porches, new stairs to gallery, and new gallery front to the westernmost bay on the south side. These designs are of an ornamental character, suited to the style and importance of the building, and when carried out will form a very pleasing effect both externally and internally. From the drawings and specifications already prepared, we gather the following description:  There will be an inner and an outer porch arranged, for the prevention of draughts, and constructed of wainscot oak panelled with sunk tracery and pierced where necessary for the admission of light. The glass for these open panels will be delicately stained and tinted, and will be fixed in lead quarries arranged in patterns. The ceilings of the porches will be curved at the sides and flat in the centre, and will be divided into panels 'By moulded ribs, carved at the intersections, or be ornamented with sunk tracery. The doors will be massive and double-hung, fitted with patent springs, and will therefore be self- closing. The upper portion of each door will be divided into four open panels, filled in the heads with tracery springing from shafts with moulded caps, bands, and bases. The framing on each side of the doorways will be similarly treated, and the whole of the pierced work will be filled with stained glass in lead quarries, as before described. The gallery front over the inner screen will have bold and enriched panelling running along its length in the form of an arcade, being divided by shafts surmounted by elaborate sunk tracery. Over this arcading there will be horizontal mouldings, with vine-leaves carved in the large hollow, and finished on the top by the projecting moulds of the book-board. In the event of the galleries being reconstructed, this design would be continued along the entire front, which would then have a very handsome appearance compared with the present line of unsightly framing. The pews in the gallery over the new porches will be rearranged and partly recon- structed, and should it be found that the bearing timbers and beams in the gallery floors are un- sound (as is not improbable, dry rot having appeared in Brown's Chapel adjoining as well as in other parts of the building), these portions of the gallery will also have to be renewed. The stairs ascending from the inner porch are so arranged that the gallery may be reached without entering the body of the Cathedral as at present. The framing round the stairs will be ornamentally treated, and in character with the other portions already described. The steps will be of easy rise, and of ample width. The newels will be moulded and carved, the larger one, at the foot of the stairs will be surmounted by a massive lamp of polished brass, specially designed. The balusters will be of wrought iron, foliated and picked out in colours, and the hinges and handles of doors, and the lamps hanging from the porch- ceiling will all be of polished brass. The floors of the porches throughout will be laid with encaustic tiles of rich design and of better quality than those at present in the entrance. One very important improvement effected by these new works will be the removal of the present stairs from Brown's Chapel (now being restored), and thus freeing the new windows from the obstruction which the old framing of the stairs formed. When some other provision can be made for the registrar, his present office will be removed from this chapel, and the restoration of this portion will then be internally completed. These alterations will give additional accommodation on the ground- floor, besides adding so much to the beauty of the building and to the comfort of a large portion of the congregation. In addition to these works, numbers of minor alterations and repairs have from week to week been carried out during the last few months, and others are still being executed. The interior of the building has been so much neglected that a considerable sum is required to put it in anything like a proper state of repair, independently of the thousands of pounds that will be absorbed in the permanent work of restoration. There can be no doubt that the wealthy churchmen of Manchester will interest themselves in the movement, and aid the vigorous action of the Dean and Canons and Church- wardens towards completing the good work that has been begun. [Building News 6 February 1874 page 159-160]

Reference        British Architect Volume 1 13 February 1874 Page
Reference        Building News 6 February 1874 page 159-160