It now remains to notice the arrangements provided for refreshments, which
are introduced in connexion with the open courts left on account of the
groups of trees. These happen to occur towards the ends of the building,
and on the north side of the main avenue; the space at the north end of the
transept, next to the inclosed trees, is also appropriated for this
purpose. The roofing over these parts is a continuation of that over the
rest of the building; and the partitions necessary for inclosing the
different spaces are formed chiefly with glazed sashes, avoiding as much as
possible any solid construction, which would appear out of character. The
open courts are inclosed with sashes and doors, rendered necessary by the
uncertain nature of our climate.
A small detached building which has not been mentioned serves for the
boiler-house, and is placed near the west end of the building. As it had
been determined to afford the means of exhibiting some of the machinery in
actual motion, it was necessary to erect boilers to supply the steam to the
different machines, as it would clearly be inadmissible for each to
generate steam for its own use in the building. The house to contain the
boilers is ninety-six feet long and twenty-four feet wide, and is placed as
near as practicable to the machinery-department; but at the same time it is
quite detached from the main building to avoid risk from the fires. In
appearance it resembles the one-storey portion of the main building, but it
is constructed entirely of fire-proof materials. It contains five boilers,
each to supply steam for twenty-horse power, which is distributed by a pipe
to the different machinery.
[Illustration: General View of the Building from the South-West.]
An ornamental cast-iron railing designed by Mr. Owen Jones incloses the
building, being placed at a distance of about eight feet from it along the
principal fronts, but carried much further off at the ends, so as to
inclose a considerable space, which will thus be available for exhibiting
any large objects that will bear exposure to the weather, if there should
not be sufficient room in the interior of the building. Gates are placed
opposite all the entrances and exits, and these are so arranged that when
closed they are uniform in appearance with the rest of the railing.
[Illustration: EXTERNAL RAILING.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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