§ MR. GENT-DAVIS (Lambeth, Kennington)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the work of "restoration" now commenced at Westminster Hall includes the building of two staircases having projections of about 23 feet and 15 feet respectively into Westminster Hall; and, whether he will consent to reconsider this portion of Mr. Pearson's plan?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)The scheme which has been sanctioned by the House includes the erection of two open flights of steps having projections not of 23 feet and 15 feet, respectively, as stated in the Question of my hon. Friend, but of 20 feet 6 inches and 9 feet 6 inches, respectively. Flights of steps fulfilling the same object as those now proposed and occupying very similar positions have existed in Westminster Hall very nearly throughout its whole history. Thus one of the new flights of steps will be in the north-west corner of the Hall, close to Palace Yard, and will occupy closely the position of a similar flight which existed there since the middle of the 13th century—Henry III.'s time—and gave access to the first floor of the Exchequer Buildings. The second flight of steps, to which attention is called and which has the projection of 9 feet 6 inches, will take the place of two others, which old plans, published in Mr. Pearson's Report upon the scheme, show to have existed in the 17th century, and which there is very good reason to suppose were erected by Richard II., when the Hall was remodelled by him. These two old staircases give access to the upper floor of the buildings which existed from before 1400 to 1822 between the great buttresses, which buildings are now about to be erected. As to the artistic effect, Westminster Hall undoubtedly presents an empty and bare aspect since it has become merely a passage-way to the Houses of Parliament, and I am advised that it requires some small well-treated features to give it scale, and to suggest its size and impressiveness, and that these staircases—more especially as they replace old ones—will do just what is required in 961 this respect. In fact, Mr. Pearson informs me that he readily availed himself of the opportunity of re-inserting them, because of the distinctly advantageous effect he is convinced they will have upon the interior of the Hall. I cannot but think that his opinion deserves to have great weight attached to it upon such a point.