NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE IN WESTMINSTER HALL.

HC Deb 01 March 1824 vol 10 cc632-5

On the resolution, "That 30,000l. be granted, towards defraying the expenses, of building the New Courts of Justice in Westminster Hall,"

Mr. Bankes

objected to the abominable taste in which new buildings of a different order of architecture had been grafted on to the old Gothic, and which had been done in opposition to many remonstrances. It was a decided fault in the whole plan to bring these new buildings into Palace-yard, which, when it was once cleared, ought never to have been again occupied. Before this sum was granted he wished to see a detailed statement, of what would be necessary to complete this abominable building. The House should also have some security against future deformity. At present there was nobody who could give the least information concerning it. The building was so bad, that nobody could be found to avow that he had projected it. Whatever plans might hereafter be adopted, they should be conducted on the principle of leaving Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall open to public view to the fullest extent possible. He, for one, should never cease to regret, that any encroachments had been made on Palace-yard.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

regretted quite as much as his hon. friend, the existence of the unpleasant excrescence of which he had so deservedly complained. He had seen it for the first time in the course of last year, when the foundations were already laid, and it was unfortunately too late to put a stop to the building. The only amends which could now be made was to take care that nothing else should be erected so unsightly as the project to which his hon. friend adverted. As to an estimate of the expense for completing the building, the House might, if it thought necessary, have a more detailed statement laid before it; but he could have no objection to say that 10,000l. more would finish the whole building.

Mr. W. Williams

fully concurred in every statement which had fallen from his hon. friend, except one. He did not think it was necessary that the building should go on. He would recommend, instead of granting 40,000l. for completing it, that pulling it down should be substituted, and 5,000l. should be granted for this purpose. He hoped the House would not, by its vote, sanction the completion of a building which would hand them down to posterity as totally deficient in point of taste.

Mr. Calvert

said, that the materials might, almost all of them, be sold, or worked up again; so that the loss would be only the price of the labour.

Mr. Grey Bennet

had understood, that there were extensive projects in agitation for the improvement of Windsor Castle; but he hoped that no part of that magnificent old building would be pulled down or destroyed, under the pretence of altering or improving it. Before this proposed alteration was gone into, he trusted the plan and estimate would be laid before the House.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, that when he alluded on a former night to Windsor Castle, he had purposely not entered into details; but he had no difficulty in stating, that when he proposed to the House to vote the sum, he should be ready to give an account of the alterations intended. On a former occasion he had mentioned, that it was his intention to place the money in the hands of commissioners appointed for the purpose; and he had no doubt that those gentlemen would fully consider the subject to which the hon. gentleman had adverted. Nothing he was sure, would be done to destroy the general character of the building; but such conveniences would be added, and such alterations made as were necessary.

Mr. Williams

said, that he should move that the present vote be postponed.

Mr. Bernal

deprecated this mode of proceeding. His hon. friend seemed to forget, that the party most interested in this question was the public. At present great inconvenience was experienced for want of courts, and if the motion for postponement were carried, suitors would suffer considerably.

Mr. W. Williams

said, he would rather the public should suffer some temporary, inconvenience, than that such buildings should remain as a monument to posterity of the bad taste of the present age.

The Solicitor General

said, he approved of the buildings as little as any man could do; but when the question was, whether they were to go on or the public be exposed to very great inconvenience, he could have no hesitation in voting for the resolution.

Mr. Baring

hoped that a better system would be followed with regard to the New Post-office, and complained that there was nobody connected with the government who was responsible for these ridiculous buildings.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said that as to the Post-office, the House would be aware, that the committee to which the subject had been referred had thought it right to recommend premiums for the best architectural design. This had been done, and as it could not be ex- pected that these persons should by inspiration know what was wanted in the interior of a Post-office, the consequence had been that a number of beautiful designs had been sent in, destitute of all practical utility. The architect of the post-office had then been applied to, who had produced a design which possessed these interior arrangements; but, when laid before the Treasury, it appeared so inapplicable in point of dignity of appearance that it was also rejected. It then occurred to the noble lord at the head of the Treasury and himself, that an architect might be selected who would furnish a plan, uniting interior utility with exterior ornament. Mr. Smirke had been selected; and the design he had given in possessed every interior convenience, with sufficient dignity, to recommend it to the public.

The resolution was agreed to.