The roof of the transept, which we have described as crossing the building
about the centre of its length, differs from that of the other parts, its
general form being semicircular instead of flat, and rising above the rest
of the building so as to show the whole of the semicircle externally. This
roof is supported by arched timber ribs placed twenty-four feet apart, or
one over every column, which forms a socket, into which the foot of the rib
is fitted and secured by iron straps. Between the ribs, timbers are fixed
which carry minor ribs at a distance of eight feet apart, and upon these
the ridge-and-furrow roofing is constructed in the manner that has been
described for the flat roofing, but following the curve of the arched ribs.
At the springing or foot of the arch on either side of the transept there
is a range of louvre-frames to assist in the ventilation of the building,
and on the top of the arch externally a narrow passage is formed to give
access to the different parts of this roof. On the inner side of the arch
diagonal tie-rods are introduced between the main ribs, which, while they
serve to increase the strength of the construction by tying together all
the parts from end to end, produce an agreeable play of lines forming a
kind of network over the whole of the surface.
The ends of the transept are closed in with fan-like tracery, reminding the
spectator of the magnificent wheel windows of our Gothic cathedrals; this
elegant feature is not visible in our interior view, but will be seen in
some of the exteriors.
There is, perhaps, no part of this interesting building in which the great
size and singular lightness, almost airiness, of the construction are so
strikingly displayed as in the TRANSEPT, inclosing as it does a row of fine
old elm-trees, as if to protect them in their venerable age from the smoke
of the thousands of chimneys that have been gradually forming a destructive
circle around them.
The only portion of solid untransparent roofing in the whole of this
building is formed on either side of the arched roof just described, where
there is a lead flat twenty-four feet wide. This was partly required for a
platform to serve for carrying on the works for the arched roof, and was
also exceedingly useful in giving access to the other roofs on either side;
it likewise afforded the opportunity of giving some additional strength at
the springing of the arched ribs to resist any possible tendency they might
have to spread outwards.
[Illustration: View of the Interior of the Transept.]
[Illustration: View of Glass Roof from the Lead Flat.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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