Town Hall and column, Devonport ([1835])

Hearder, G. & J. The South Devon monthly museum. Plymouth: April 1st, 1835. VOL. V. No. 28. pp. 145-148.DEVONPORT. THE subjects of our engraving, this month, are the Town Hall, the Column, and Mount Zion Chapel, Devonport.For the drawing from which they were taken we are highly indebted to John Foulston, Esq., who, with great kindness, prepared it for the "Museum." The favor [sic] which has thus been conferred upon us was much enhanced by its being as unexpected as it was unsolicited.We believe our engraving is the most accurate which has been presented to the public. That in "Fisher's Devonshire Illustrated" is incorrect in the relative proportions; the Column being much too small in comparison with the other edifices.The three structures are enduring monuments of the taste and skill of the architect, Mr. Foulston, to whom Devonport and Plymouth are indebted for the designs of so many classic public buildings.The Town Hall was designed from the Parthenon, at Athens. The builder was the late Mr. Rickard, of Devonport. It was commenced in 1821, and was completed in the following year, at an expense of £2902., which was raised by subscription, in shares. The portico exhibits four Doric columns; each twenty-seven feet six inches in height, and five feet six inches in diameter. Within its recess is a flight of six steps, leading to the Hall itself, which is seventy-five feet long, forty feet wide, and thirty-one feet in height.The interior is fitted up as a court of justice, for the transaction of such business as comes under the cognizance of the local magistrates: but, as the Hall is frequently used for other public purposes, the fittings are so constructed as to be capable of removal when necessary. At the back of the edifice, and otherwise contained within it, are several smaller apartments. There are also cells for prisoners, which have a communication with the Hall. The meetings of the Devonport Mechanics' Institute are held within the building.His late Majesty, George the fourth, granted to the inhabitants the privilege of changing the former name of the town, Plymouth Dock, to that of Devonport; and on the first of January, 1824, its new appellation was proclaimed in many public places, with every demonstration of rejoicing. In order to perpetuate the memory of this event, the Column was erected, from Mr. Foulston's design, it was to be surmounted by a colossal statue of the King who sanctioned the change of name. This structure also was built by the late Mr. Rickard, at an expense of £2750., but this does not include the remuneration of the architect. It may, here, be observed that the Column was erected without the aid of any exterior scaffolding.The Column stands upon a solid rock, twenty-two feet above the pavement; which height is ascended by a handsome flight of steps, enclosed by parapets, of wrought marble ashler work, and communicating with an arched gateway, of similar materials, that opens to the terrace surrounding the base.Including the plinths and foundation rock, the entire elevation of the Column from the street to the pedestal, whereupon the figure is to stand, is 125 feet. On the upper plinth, which is nine feet high, are pannels [sic] for inscriptions; the height of the lower plinth is nineteen feet. The whole is constructed of 147 granite, of a very superior quality. The shaft is fluted, and of the Grecian Doric order, having within it a spiral staircase leading to a balcony on the summit of the capital. This is surrounded by an elegant iron railing, and commands as fine an expanse of prospect as any in the country;-it is bounded by Hengist down, on the north, and extends to the British Channel on the south; and comprises every variety of landscape, lying between Dartmoor on the east, and the far hills of Cornwall on the west. A person is always in attendance at the Column: visitors are allowed to ascend to the top, and avail themselves of the beautiful view which it unfolds, on payment of a shilling.To the right of the Column is seen Mount Zion Chapel. It is designed after the Hindoo [sic] style, with the ornaments and accompaniments appropriate to that fantastic manner; but of massive and bold proportions; these are so judiciously arranged, that the whole front presents a highly effective and pleasing appearance; and the building, though placed in juxta-position with the fine portico of the Town Hall, maintains its rank, and seems to suffer nothing from a contrast, which would be destructive to many buildings, in which bold and picturesque effects have been less the objects of the architect's attention.The building of this chapel was commenced in November, 1823, and finished in July, 1824, at a cost of about £2,000.To the right of Mount Zion Chapel is the Devonport Library (an engraving of which has been prepared for publication in a future number). The building was originally used as the Devonport and Stonehouse Classical and Mathematical Subscription School. The business of that establishment is now carried on in another building, in Fore Street, Devonport. Subsequently to this removal, the edifice was purchased for a Public Library, for which purpose it is exceedingly well adapted. It is supported by annual subscriptions, every subscriber having the privilege of introducing a friend, with free access for three months. The Library consists of a highly valuable collection of books, both ancient and modern, and a constant supply of the London, provincial, and local newspapers.The building is in the Egyptian style of architecture; much judgment [sic] has been displayed by the architect in combining the massive parts, appropriate to this style, with the greatest effect. Monsieur Denon observed, when a design of the building was shown to him, that it was the best attempt to appropriate Egyptian architecture to domestic purposes that had ever come under his notice. The building was erected in 1823, at the cost of £1500.For parts of the above discription [sic] we are indebted to "Carrington's Guide," "Rowe's Panorama of Plymouth," "Brindley's Directory," and "Fisher's Devonshire and Cornwall Illustrated"[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Wood engr

135x92mm