The only existing office, in a sound state, and having any architectural pretensions, which must be removed, is the State Paper Office, which is obviously too much in the way of a good general arrangement of plan to be allowed to remain. The Parade, enclosed by the Public Offices on three sides, and by the open screen to the Park on the fourth, would form a striking feature of the locality, and provide a larger and more conveniently arranged area for inspections than at present; and the advantage which is proposed, of being able to close it at pleasure, might be found to be of important use, in times of public excitement, not only for the inspection of the military but also of the police.
Thoroughfares and Traffic.
Ample accommodation is provided for the diversion of the eastern and western traffic, through the proposed main north and south thoroughfares of Whitehall and St. James’s Park, by means of two new bridges across the river, and a public thoroughfare through the Mall to the Strand. Westminster Bridge, rebuilt as proposed, should be retained in its present position, as being the natural line of communication with the Birdcage Walk, and the most convenient approach to the three important buildings in Westminster, from the Surrey side of the river. It is of the utmost importance, however, that the level of its roadway, as determined by Parliament, should remain unaltered; otherwise the effect of not only the Palace at Westminster, but also of the proposed Government Offices, will be seriously injured. To obviate in some degree the sunken effect of the New Palace at Westminster, as it will be seen from the bridge, even when lowered to the level determined by Parliament, a raising of the River Terrace of that building might be worthy of consideration upon that as well as other grounds. The plan exhibits two alternative propositions for the bridge at Charing Cross,—one, an entirely new bridge, and the other the present Suspension Bridge, widened for carriages. The former is preferred by the authors of this plan, but, if the latter should be adopted, it is hoped that its principle of suspension may be abolished, so that the present towers and chains may no longer destroy some of the finest effects of London, as seen from various points of view.
Miscellaneous Improvements.
Assuming that the long-proposed and in part adopted plan of embanking the river, with a view to the improvement of its navigation and appearance, and the removal of its present offensive and unwholesome effluvia, must at no distant period be accomplished, it is proposed that at least such portion of the river as lies between the proposed Lambeth Bridge and Waterloo Bridge should be treated ornamentally, and have public quays on each side of it, with houses and terraces adjoining them, so as to screen from view the mean, unsightly, and in fact ruinous buildings, which at present disfigure both shores of this noble river. Amongst these buildings it is proposed to place a great hotel, at the Middlesex end of the Charing Cross Bridge, the promoters of which (it is believed) would construct so much of the embankment as is needed for their purposes at their own cost, upon having the fee simple of the site reclaimed assigned to them as an equivalent. An extension of the National Gallery is proposed, for an increase of the accommodation for the national collections of art, and for the use of the Royal Academy and Schools of Design, as well as for periodical displays of art and science, &c., in galleries exclusively devoted to the purpose. This is however proposed on the assumption that no better locality can be found for such objects. The extension of Whitehall Chapel provides for an improved United Service Museum, and would remedy the present fragmentary appearance of the building, while it would form an appropriate entrance to the road to the new Charing Cross Bridge. If this suggestion were entertained, it might be worthy of consideration, whether accommodation should not be provided in the new museum for a gallery of portraits of all the most eminent men of the naval and military services. With respect to the basin shown for the use of the wharves under the Adelphi Terrace, it might perhaps be worthy of consideration, whether the whole of the site of that basin and adjoining wharves might not be devoted to a great central terminus for the whole of the railways of the metropolis. In such case it would be advisable that the present Suspension Bridge should be converted into a railway bridge exclusively for communication with the several railways on the Surrey side of the river, and, with respect to those on the Middlesex side, it is proposed that advantage should be taken of the Metropolitan Act to connect them as far as the proposed station in Farringdon Street, and continue that connection by tunnelling under Fleet Street and the Strand to the great central terminus in the site suggested.
Such was his own sketch of his great plan, which, with the annexed plan and illustration, will render further description needless.
It is probable that few will question its grandeur and comprehensiveness. It would have made Westminster a palatial quarter of the town, grouping together the buildings, which the public service of a great country requires, in an unity, justified by their actual unity of purpose, and all but necessary to their full architectural effect. The great quadrangle of nine acres, with its sides formed by the Abbey, the Government Palace, the New Palace of Westminster, and the public buildings removed in order to clear the area, must have been its most striking feature. Hardly inferior in magnificence would have been the Park view of the Government Palace with the enclosed Parade, the large area cleared along the Thames Embankment, and the great line of public buildings extending from Great George Street to Trafalgar Square. Essential points in the scheme were the embankments on both sides of the river and the large spaces reserved, to be laid out in public gardens, and so to give breathing space and opportunity for seeing the great piles of building proposed. Taken altogether it would have produced a general effect hardly to be equalled in Europe.
But it should also be noticed, that the plan was eminently practical. It sacrificed little, it indicated the main lines which public improvements must eventually take, and it was capable of being carried out gradually. The concentration of public offices is demanded by public convenience; the opening out the great buildings to be erected will be an architectural necessity. The Thames Embankment is now a reality, though Sir Charles would have little dreamt that its effect would have been allowed to be broken in upon by the Hungerford Railway Bridge, and the enormous mass of the Charing Cross Station. The enlargement of the National Gallery is now only a question of time. The opening of great lines of communication is hardly likely to be long deferred. In the whole scheme therefore there was nothing visionary, nothing impracticable.
Its cost no doubt would have been great. But it would not have exceeded the cost, which will be ultimately incurred; and, if it had been carried out gradually, the burden on the public resources would have been almost imperceptible.
In the present state of public feeling as to the value of Art in itself, and in its influence on the national character, there can be no doubt that great public improvements will be demanded. The example set in Paris can hardly be quite lost upon us. Unless unforeseen necessity should absorb the public resources, great sums of public money will certainly be expended. That which is to be ardently desired is that the authorities who direct the public expenditure should have before them some great and comprehensive scheme, which, while it leaves all details perfectly free, and so avoids monotonous uniformity, may indicate the general principles to be followed, and at least see that one improvement does not destroy or ruin another.