r,-'2

THEORY OF ARCIIITECTUIIE.
Book IF.
DR describe tbo arc RS, with the centre I and distance IS doscrllie the arc ST, and
witli tlie centie K and distance Kl' desciihc the arc lU, and tlie scroll will be completed.
2191. ivV/. 787. gives the construction of the cur-tail step, or tliat which lies under tlie
ticroll, abed is the veneer that covers the riser
;
ej'c/h, the nosing of the cover or horizontal
part of the step
;
i/il the face of tlie strin;^ board, and 711110 the projection of the nosinc,
2192.
\nfig.
788 is shown tlie cover board for the cur-tail step, abed and
efyli in dotted
lines represent tlie jjlan of the scroll
;
npqns, the nosing of the cur-tail step
; t, u, v, s, the
nosings and ends of the risers. The circle
1, 2, 3, &c is described from the centre of the
scroll, and divided into equal paits equal to the distances of the balusters from centre to
centre, and lines are drawn to the centre of the scroll in order to ascertain the middle of
the lialusters, by giving a regular gradation to tlie spaces. The wiiole of the spiral lines
In this and the previous figure are drawn from the same centres as the scroll.
BENCHES.
2192a.
"
It must be confessed," says Denison, in his Lectures on Church Building,
1856,
page 242,
"
that our ancestors did not oH'er much temptation to people to uome to cliurch
by the comforts they provided for them when they got there. Nothing, indeed, can be
better for sitting in than some of the old stalls, such as those in King's College Chapel,
where the back has a slope of one to four
;
but most of the common old church seats are
frightfully uncomfortablethe back of the seat ought to be inclined, especially when it
rises as high as the shoulders. It is not of so much consequence when the seat backs are
low, but even in them it is better to have a little inclination, about one in eight ; and abo\o
all things, the top rail ought not to ]iroject. The seats ought never to be less than 13
inches wide with a sloping back, or 14 inches with an upright one, and they will he all the
better if they are an inch or two more. Nothing under 2 feet 10 inches at the very least
'^ill allow proper room for sitting, standing, and kneeling, especially if there are any
divisions under the seats to (jrevent people from kicking their neighbours' hats, or appro-
priating their hassocks. Where it is necessary to save room in every possible way, it is
not a bad plan to make the division under the seat only come down to 3 or 4 inches from
the fljor; and never in any case ought there to be (what there often is) a thick rail or bar
of wood lying along the floor and taking ofl'an inch or more from the space for the feet.
The book boards are best not sloping, which is of no use, but flat and narrow, just wide
enough to lay a book upon shut, and to put the arms upon iii knetling. As regards the
difficulty of tinding a good ])lace and proper height for the puljiit and reading desk, I
know of no better advice to give upon the subject than to try various places before you
finally fix upon any one, unless the construction of the church is such that there is one
jilace marked out by nature (as we may say) as the proper one."
21926. Examples of benches and bench ends are represented in so many publications
that it is deemed unnecessary to give any illustration. Some cajjpings to benches, and
edges to divisions, are shown in the section Wood Mouldings in Book HI, Those shown
in Brandon's Analysin, and Bury's Woodwork, give the following dimensions:

Name of Church.
Comberton, Cambridge
-
Bentley, Suffolk -
Great Waltham, Essex, 14-0
-
Bishops Lydeard, Somerset
Westonzoyland, Somerset
AtheriuL^ton, Devon
lekleton, Cambridge
Stalls, Bridgewater, Somerset
-
Wantage, Berks -
2. 9
2. 5
3. 1
2. 10;
3. 3
3. 9
2. 4
5
/2.
12.
4
10
6
^\
-|J
9i
3. 5
s. at.
1.
0.
1.
11
1
0. 11
0. lU
0.
m
0.
Wh
-
Opening
fi-
1. 7
centre to
centre
1. 4A
fend
"11.
4
1. 10
1 sitting
/
2. 3
1. 10
The rules of the Incorporated Society for Promoting the Building of Churofies state,
that
"
the distance from the back of one seat to that of the next must depend in great
measure on the height of the backs. Where the funds and space will admit, convenience
will be best consulted by adopting a clear width of .3 feet
;
hut a width of not less than
2 feet 8 inches from centre to centre will be allowed if the back of the seat is not more
than 2 feet 8 inches in height. If a greater height be adopted, the distance from back to
back must he increased one inch at least for every additional inch in height
;
but under
no circumstances must it exceed 3 feet. There must not be any projecting capping
on the
top of the hacks. Facilities for kneeling in all cases to be provided. The width of the
seat boards for adults to be not less than 13 inches. 2() inches in length must be allowed
for each adult, and 1 J inches for a child. Children's seats must be at least
20'
inches from