The interior of this building has been plastered with white plaster, and on the surface bricks are lined out in red paint. There is a sun-dial on the lawn in front of the manor house, with the following motto and date :— "Volvenda dies "Brown fecit" (on the side of the gnomon). The chapel house at Maghull, nearly opposite the old chapel, is a good example of early 17th century architecture, with long square mullioned windows. That of the north end is transomed and is a large window. The key-stone of the arched door is ornamented with a pendent in the soffit. The sun-dial in the chapel-yard of Maghull chapel bears the following inscription : THE OLD SUN-DIAL AT THORNTON. The stone-work of the pedestal on which this dial stands was repaired in June, 1891, by Mr. Jas. Roscoe, clerk of works at Kirkby, at the sole cost of the right hon. the Earl of Sefton, K.G., who is the lord of the manor. As far as possible the old stones were reversed and re-cut, and in several places, where it was found absolutely necessary, new stones (red sandstone) were inserted, and the gnomon was re-set. The inscription on this dial is nearly illegible, the only letters decipherable being, “Thos D . . . . tt.” ST. HELEN'S WELL AT SEFTON. A wooden canopy, from designs by Mr. John Douglas of Chester, was placed over this well during the summer of 1891; the sides of the well were re-built and a reservoir made, so that some of the adjacent cottages could be supplied with water. The work was carried out under the superintendence of Mr. James Roscoe, and at the sole cost of the Earl of Sefton, K.G. NETHERTON GREEN. The green was surrounded with railings and the old mounting-block repaired, by Mr. James Roscoe, at the cost of the Earl of Sefton, K.G., a few years back. This mounting-block was originally erected, some years ago, for the convenience of the late Earl of Sefton, when out hunting with his harriers. WILLIAM E. GREGSON. SUGGESTIONS FOR DESCRIBING ANCIENT BUILDINGS. 1. A preliminary description should be given of the neighbourhood and surroundings of the church or house, stating its distance from two or three well-known towns, and its relation to the points of the compass as regards those towns. 2. The ground-plan of the building should be first described, as it actually exists at the time of writing the description. 3. Then the various elevations, external and internal, should be given. 4. Next, the dates of the various portions of the structure, as determined by the mouldings and other incontrovertible architectural evidence, confirmed by actual documents, if such exist; bearing in mind that in the rebuildings which have so frequently taken place in the course of centuries, features of early date which happen to be in a good state of preservation are not infrequently used up again in the later structure. 5. The description should be accompanied by a table of architectural periods. 6. In many buildings the history of past alterations and rebuildings is clearly to be made out, by careful examination and by historical documents, but otherwise it is well to condense speculations on what might have been the original plans; and if such views are printed at all, they should be clearly given only as hypotheses. 7. It is generally desirable to re-write descriptions of this kind many times, carefully excluding all irrelevant matter, remembering that the public will not follow a long technical description. S 258 Suggestions for Describing Ancient Buildings. 8. Therefore the paper should have as many pictorial illustrations as funds will permit, and in all cases there should be a ground plan and at least one complete external pictorial view. In the case of quadrangular buildings, there should be a bird's-eye view. A section should, if possible, be given, and details of interesting features. The scale should be carefully marked. 9. A list of all books relating to the subject should be added, and it is often better, and perhaps more respectful to the authors, to give short quotations rather than a compilation, in which it is difficult to perceive whether the writer of the paper is giving the result of his own researches or those of other people. 10. In the case of houses, a brief history of the families who have lived in them should be given; and in the case of churches, there should be a list of rectors, and a description of all important monuments, memorial brasses, carving, and stained glass windows. II. In Whewell's notes on German Churches, admirable rules are laid down for describing buildings, more or less elaborate, according to the time at the disposal of the visitor. His rules are intended for the use of amateurs, and if followed more extensively, there would be preserved to us records of many buildings which are fast disappearing. There are many such in Lancashire and Cheshire. This book should be in the Society's library, and the rules for describing buildings might with great advantage be printed for members of the Historic Society. HENRY TAYylor. REPORT, 1895. During the year, fourteen members have joined the Society; while six have died, and three have resigned their membership. Among those removed by death, with regret we chronicle the names of Philip Henry Rathbone, Alderman of Liverpool, a patriotic citizen, unselfish both in public and private life, who died 21st November; of the Reverend Andrew E. P. Gray, M.A., F.S.A., Rector of Wallasey, for many years on the Council of the Society, all too soon removed from the scene of his literary and parochial labours, dying at San Remo on the 11th of December; lastly, of John Parsons Earwaker, M.A., F.S.A., who was suddenly cut off in the flower of his age, in the full possession of his mental powers, at Pensarn, Abergele, on the 30th of January, leaving a gap in the ranks of thoroughly capable, laborious, topographer-genealogists which it will be hard to fill. Nine papers, dealing with subjects connected with the history. or antiquities of the two counties, were read during the year. In the summer, Saturday afternoon excursions, under the guidance of Mr. W. Fergusson Irvine and Mr. W. E. Gregson, were made to Crosby Hall, where the party was courteously entertained by Mr. Blundell, of Crosby, and his sister; to Leasowe Castle and the Meols shore; to Boar's Den and Standish; and to Poole Hall and Eastham. To plan and carry out these small excursions occasions a good deal of trouble to those who are so good as to undertake the labour, and it seems a great pity that so few members are found to join in them. PAPERS READ, 1895. Jan. 10. "A Note on the Common Land of Wallasey." W. C. Ashby Pritt. Edward W. Cox. "On Traces of a Saxon Church at Bebington." 99 21. Dec. 5. " 19. "Moreton Old Hall." ... ... "Notes on Douglas Chapel."... W. Fred. Price. "Early Christianity in Wirral.". W. Fergusson Irvine. |