I have made a Design, which will not be very expensive but light, but still in the Gothick Form, and of a Style with the rest of the structure, which I would strictly adhere to, throughout the whole intention: to deviate from the old Form would be to run into a disagreeable mixture which no Person of a good Taste could relish. I have varied a little from the usual Form, in giving twelve sides to the Spire instead of eight, for Reasons, to be discerned upon the Model.
‘The Angles of Pyramids in the Gothick Architecture were usually enriched with the Flower the Botanists call the Calceolus, which is a proper form to help workmen to ascend on the outside to amend any defects, without raising large scaffolds upon every slight occasion; I have done the same, being of so good Use, as well as agreeable Ornament.... It is evident, as observed before, the two West Towers were left imperfect, and have continued so since the Dissolution of the Monastery, one much higher than the other, though still too low for Bells, which are stifled by the Height of the Roof above them; they ought certainly to be carried to an equal Height, one story above the ridge of the Roof, still continuing the Gothick manner, in the stone-work, and tracery.... It will be most necessary to rebuild the great North Window with Portland stone, to answer the South Rose Window which was well rebuilt about forty years since; the stair-cases at the corners and Pyramids set upon them conformable to the old style to make the whole of a piece.... For all these new Additions I have prepared perfect Draughts and Models, such as I conceive may agree with the original scheme of the old architect, without any modern mixtures to show my own Inventions: in like manner as I have among the Parochial Churches of London given some few Examples (where I was obliged to deviate from a better style), which appear not ungraceful, but ornamental to the East part of the city; and it is to be hoped, by the publick care, the West part also, in good time will be as well adorned: and surely by nothing more properly than a lofty Spire and Western Towers to Westminster Abbey.’
With this, still unfulfilled hope, Wren’s interesting paper closes. Nine years afterwards he did, however, finish the north front, commonly known as Solomon’s Porch.
‘MODERN MIXTURES.’
Wren is so commonly spoken of as having built—and spoilt—the western towers, that it is well here to mention that his share in them is very small; he only restored with a careful hand the lower portion of the towers then standing.[222] They were continued by Hawksmoor after Wren’s death, and by two other architects in succession after the death of Hawksmoor in 1736. No one of these had, as Wren had, the high-minded desire to do justice to ‘the original architect without any modern mixtures of my own.’
CHAPTER XIII.
1700–1708.
MEMBER FOR WEYMOUTH—RISING OF THE SAP IN TREES—PRINCE GEORGE’S STATUE—JANE WREN’S DEATH—THANKSGIVING AT S. PAUL’S—LETTER TO HIS SON—SON MARRIES MARY MUSARD—DEATH OF MR. EVELYN—QUEEN ANNE’S ACT FOR BUILDING FIFTY CHURCHES—LETTER ON CHURCH BUILDING.
‘The old knight turning about his head twice or thrice to take a survey of this great metropolis, bid me observe how thick the City was set with churches, and that there was scarce a single steeple on this side Temple Bar. “A most heathenish sight!” says Sir Roger; “there is no religion at this end of the town. The fifty new churches will very much mend the prospect, but church work is slow, church work is slow.”’—The Spectator, No. 383.