DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1401#0095
48
THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.
the protection of the articles exhibited, it was to be as
water-tight as possible; and, secondly, in order that those
articles might be shown to the greatest advantage, the light
which was admitted through the roof should be evenly dis-
tributed ; the second condition was fulfilled by using
nothing but glass for the covering of the roof, though this
rather increased the difficulty of the first condition, which
was endeavoured to be got over by carrying off the water
from the surface of the roof by the shortest possible road.
To show how this is effected, it will be well again to con-
sider a compartment twenty-four feet supported by four
girders forming the sides of the square;—on two of the
girders square wooden gutters are constructed, and the
square area is then divided into three equal portions by
light beams or rafters, with channels hollowed out on their
upper surface to carry off the water, and now commonly
known by the name of the " Paxton gutters ;" these rafters
are therefore twenty-four feet long, and are placed eight
feet apart, their ends being fixed on to the square gutters
previously mentioned; the space between the Paxton
gutters is thus roofed in two slopes meeting in a ridge,
which is supported by the sash-bars for the glass. In this
manner the immense flat is covered with a roof, the in-
clination of which is sufficient to throw off the water
quickly, while the length of the slope, which the water
must run down before it reaches the gutter, is only forty-
nine inches. From the Paxton gutters, which lie in the
direction of the length of the building, the water passes
into the square gutters which run in the transverse direc-
tion, and from these it is discharged down the cast-iron
columns, which are hollow, and which thus serve a double
purpose. The total length of Paxton gutters required in
the construction of the roof is 110,000 feet, which, if placed
in one line, would very nearly connect the royal residences
at St. James's and Windsor. This kind of roofing is called
"ridge-and-furrow; " it possesses many advantages for
covering large areas like the present, and has been much
used by Mr. Paxton for horticultural buildings.
The lines of ridge-and-furrow roofing extend on either
side of the transept unbroken to the ends of the building,
and present a very singular appearance when viewed from
the roof. The same arrangement of the roof is carried over
the arch of the transept, and the only portion in which a
variation occurs is that on either side of the transept arch,
where a lead flat is formed in order to give additional
strength to that part, as shown in a previous page.
The external enclosure of the building shows the same
subdivision of parts as the interior; iron columns, like
those of the interior, occur every twenty-four feet, and the
space between these is divided into three eight-feet widths
by wooden half-columns, between which light iron arches
and ornamental panels are fixed, serving to retain the
framework of the actual enclosure; this consists, on the
ground floor, of boarding; but in the two upper stories of
glazed sashes. Along the top of each story is placed a
range of louvre frames or ventilators, three feet deep, of
which any number may be opened or closed as circum-
stances may require, network being placed on the inside to
keep out birds. Another row of similar frames four feet
deep are placed at the bottom of the lower story, where
they form a kind of plinth round the whole of the building.
By these means a surface for ventilation, amounting to more
than 40,000 square feet, is obtained, which has been hitherto
found sufficient to keep the temperature of the interior at a
moderate height.
The end elevations of the transept, which are
circular-headed, following the form of the roof, are fill j
in with fan-like tracery, which gives an elegant finish t
the arch form. The floor of the building is 0f WooJ
throughout, raised on an average about two feet above the
natural surface of the ground, and supported on timber
resting on small blocks of concrete. Underneath the floor
may be seen the spreading feet of the columns, which are
also based on concrete of sufficient thickness to rest upon
firm gravel, which fortunately lies at no great depth below
the surface.
The materials used in the construction of this building
are, therefore, confined to iron, wood, and glass. Of the
first about 4,000 tons was used, and about 1,200 loads of
timber were required for the wood-work; the weight of
glass in the roof and upright sash frames is about 400 tons.
It remains to notice a few of the general arrangements
our limits obliging us to pass over, for the present, many in-
teresting details. There are only three public entrances
to this building, and these appear, at least at present
amply sufficient for the admission of visitors ; an in-
crease in their number would have necessitated a corre-
sponding but inconvenient increase in the staff of clerks
and money-takers. The arrangements for enabling the latter
to perform their functions with ease both to themselves
and the public are very well carried out, and have entirely
prevented any inconvenient crowding of visitors. The
reasons for limiting the number of entrances were not,
however, applicable to doors for exit only, and of these,
therefore, fifteen are provided in the whole circuit of the
building, so that the visitor, when tired, need never go far
to get out.
For carrying on the business of so large an undertaking
as the Great Exhibition, of course a considerable number
of persons are necessarily employed on the spot, and a
large amount of accommodation in offices is required; this
is principally provided on either side of the principal or
south entrance, where the height between the galleries is
divided into two stories. A smaller amount of accommo-
dation is also given at the end entrances. The outer en-
closure of the rooms is formed with glazed sashes, and the
partitions between them are boarded.
The arrangements for the refreshments are made where
the trees enclosed within the building afford the eye a
resting place from the glare of magnificence and maze oi
objects by which it is everywhere else surrounded; and from
the crowds to be seen in these parts it is evident that the
mind cannot be feasted without giving to the body also
its proper share of the enjoyment.
On the first page of the Number will be found a repre-
sentation of the Transept; showing the girders of the
glass roof, and the appearance of the building before it
received the industrial contributions of the nations;
and
on page 46 we give a representation of the Committee s
design alluded to in page 45, with a ground plan showing
the contemplated distribution of space within the walls. ^
This hasty sketch of a building so remarkable for its
size, novelty, simplicity, and rapidity of construction, may
perhaps assist some who visit it in appreciating its merits
more fully than a mere superficial examination would enab e
them to do ; and our countrymen may feel proud that we
have at least one striking and unique specimen of our sk
and enterprise to exhibit to the foreigners who have
brought all the riches of their different countries for onr
admiration and instruction.
THE ILLUSTRATED EXHIBITOR.
the protection of the articles exhibited, it was to be as
water-tight as possible; and, secondly, in order that those
articles might be shown to the greatest advantage, the light
which was admitted through the roof should be evenly dis-
tributed ; the second condition was fulfilled by using
nothing but glass for the covering of the roof, though this
rather increased the difficulty of the first condition, which
was endeavoured to be got over by carrying off the water
from the surface of the roof by the shortest possible road.
To show how this is effected, it will be well again to con-
sider a compartment twenty-four feet supported by four
girders forming the sides of the square;—on two of the
girders square wooden gutters are constructed, and the
square area is then divided into three equal portions by
light beams or rafters, with channels hollowed out on their
upper surface to carry off the water, and now commonly
known by the name of the " Paxton gutters ;" these rafters
are therefore twenty-four feet long, and are placed eight
feet apart, their ends being fixed on to the square gutters
previously mentioned; the space between the Paxton
gutters is thus roofed in two slopes meeting in a ridge,
which is supported by the sash-bars for the glass. In this
manner the immense flat is covered with a roof, the in-
clination of which is sufficient to throw off the water
quickly, while the length of the slope, which the water
must run down before it reaches the gutter, is only forty-
nine inches. From the Paxton gutters, which lie in the
direction of the length of the building, the water passes
into the square gutters which run in the transverse direc-
tion, and from these it is discharged down the cast-iron
columns, which are hollow, and which thus serve a double
purpose. The total length of Paxton gutters required in
the construction of the roof is 110,000 feet, which, if placed
in one line, would very nearly connect the royal residences
at St. James's and Windsor. This kind of roofing is called
"ridge-and-furrow; " it possesses many advantages for
covering large areas like the present, and has been much
used by Mr. Paxton for horticultural buildings.
The lines of ridge-and-furrow roofing extend on either
side of the transept unbroken to the ends of the building,
and present a very singular appearance when viewed from
the roof. The same arrangement of the roof is carried over
the arch of the transept, and the only portion in which a
variation occurs is that on either side of the transept arch,
where a lead flat is formed in order to give additional
strength to that part, as shown in a previous page.
The external enclosure of the building shows the same
subdivision of parts as the interior; iron columns, like
those of the interior, occur every twenty-four feet, and the
space between these is divided into three eight-feet widths
by wooden half-columns, between which light iron arches
and ornamental panels are fixed, serving to retain the
framework of the actual enclosure; this consists, on the
ground floor, of boarding; but in the two upper stories of
glazed sashes. Along the top of each story is placed a
range of louvre frames or ventilators, three feet deep, of
which any number may be opened or closed as circum-
stances may require, network being placed on the inside to
keep out birds. Another row of similar frames four feet
deep are placed at the bottom of the lower story, where
they form a kind of plinth round the whole of the building.
By these means a surface for ventilation, amounting to more
than 40,000 square feet, is obtained, which has been hitherto
found sufficient to keep the temperature of the interior at a
moderate height.
The end elevations of the transept, which are
circular-headed, following the form of the roof, are fill j
in with fan-like tracery, which gives an elegant finish t
the arch form. The floor of the building is 0f WooJ
throughout, raised on an average about two feet above the
natural surface of the ground, and supported on timber
resting on small blocks of concrete. Underneath the floor
may be seen the spreading feet of the columns, which are
also based on concrete of sufficient thickness to rest upon
firm gravel, which fortunately lies at no great depth below
the surface.
The materials used in the construction of this building
are, therefore, confined to iron, wood, and glass. Of the
first about 4,000 tons was used, and about 1,200 loads of
timber were required for the wood-work; the weight of
glass in the roof and upright sash frames is about 400 tons.
It remains to notice a few of the general arrangements
our limits obliging us to pass over, for the present, many in-
teresting details. There are only three public entrances
to this building, and these appear, at least at present
amply sufficient for the admission of visitors ; an in-
crease in their number would have necessitated a corre-
sponding but inconvenient increase in the staff of clerks
and money-takers. The arrangements for enabling the latter
to perform their functions with ease both to themselves
and the public are very well carried out, and have entirely
prevented any inconvenient crowding of visitors. The
reasons for limiting the number of entrances were not,
however, applicable to doors for exit only, and of these,
therefore, fifteen are provided in the whole circuit of the
building, so that the visitor, when tired, need never go far
to get out.
For carrying on the business of so large an undertaking
as the Great Exhibition, of course a considerable number
of persons are necessarily employed on the spot, and a
large amount of accommodation in offices is required; this
is principally provided on either side of the principal or
south entrance, where the height between the galleries is
divided into two stories. A smaller amount of accommo-
dation is also given at the end entrances. The outer en-
closure of the rooms is formed with glazed sashes, and the
partitions between them are boarded.
The arrangements for the refreshments are made where
the trees enclosed within the building afford the eye a
resting place from the glare of magnificence and maze oi
objects by which it is everywhere else surrounded; and from
the crowds to be seen in these parts it is evident that the
mind cannot be feasted without giving to the body also
its proper share of the enjoyment.
On the first page of the Number will be found a repre-
sentation of the Transept; showing the girders of the
glass roof, and the appearance of the building before it
received the industrial contributions of the nations;
and
on page 46 we give a representation of the Committee s
design alluded to in page 45, with a ground plan showing
the contemplated distribution of space within the walls. ^
This hasty sketch of a building so remarkable for its
size, novelty, simplicity, and rapidity of construction, may
perhaps assist some who visit it in appreciating its merits
more fully than a mere superficial examination would enab e
them to do ; and our countrymen may feel proud that we
have at least one striking and unique specimen of our sk
and enterprise to exhibit to the foreigners who have
brought all the riches of their different countries for onr
admiration and instruction.