RUSTIC WORK # * m # Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Getty Research Institute https://archive.org/details/sketchesforrustiOOrica SKETCHES FOR RUSTIC WORK; * » » \ INCLUDING BRIDGES, PARK and GARDEN BUILDINGS, SEATS and FURNITURE. fWflWeew itotfg, THE SCENIC VIEWS IN THE TINTED STYLE OF ZINCOGRAPHY WITH DESCRIPTIONS AND ESTIMATES OF THE BUILDINGS, BY T. J. R I C AUTS, ARCHITECT, ©!F Ik ee TOSTO© /^©nQT[i©Ty[^[£y ? LONDON. PRINTED FROM ZINC, AT THE AUTHOR’S OFFICES, AND PUBLISHED BY JAMES CARPENTER, OLD BOND STREET. MDCCCXLII. ■ TO SIR ROBERT HARLAND, BARONET, ORWELL PARK. Sir Robert, As a young man just commencing my professional practice, it would be almost ungrateful in me were I not to take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded, to offer my respectful thanks for the encouragement I have had the honor of receiving from yourself and Lady Harland; and it is with much pleasure that I avail myself of the usual practice of authors in the dedication of their works, to inscribe these Sketches to my first patron. 1 have the honor to remain, Sir Robert, Your much obliged and grateful Servant, T. J. RICAUTI. INTRODUCTION. It was in the course of a professional excursion through some of the most pic¬ turesque counties of England that my attention was first directed to this subject. I observed that, although in a few instances much taste was displayed in the formation of small Garden Buildings, Rustic Seats, &c. &c.; the majority of those beautiful land¬ scapes which encircle the Mansions of the great, and surround almost every species of Villa Residence with which I am acquainted, are, more or less, disturbed in effect by the obtrusive forms of crude and inelegant structures, whose outlines are anything but compatible with the surrounding scenery. These Sketches are therefore published in the hope that they will find their way into the hands of those country gentlemen, who take an interest in the decoration of their pleasure grounds, and who require but a few hints to enable them to give direc- % tions, and to superintend the erection of those smaller features, which either tend greatly to improve, or to destroy the beautiful effects produced by the art of modern Landscape Gardening. London, 1842. T. J. RICAUTI. RUSTIC BRIDGES. Plate No. I.—Is a sketch for a bridge having a shelter, or covered seat in the centre, and would be most appropriate where objects of interest, such as water-fowl, &c., may be seen from it. Plate No. II.—Is a sketch for a Rustic Bridge, having a seat on each side, in the centre. Plate No. III.—Bridges continued. These and the foregoing designs are drawn to the scale of half an inch to a foot, but they may easily be varied, according to circumstances. In a summary view of the progress of gardening and of rural improvement gene¬ rally, during 1841, Mr. Loudon says, “ There is one department of rustic architecture to which we would earnestly invite the attention of country gentlemen, the ladies of their families, and also their gardeners and stewards, and that is the erection of rustic structures formed of the thinnings of plantations with the bark on. We are far from recommending the imitation of those grotesque seats and summer-houses, formed of peeled oak branches, so commonly exhibited for sale in the neighbourhood of London, because the different parts of these structures are put together without any evidence of cultivated design. The materials that we recommend are poles, or young trees, of from 6 in. to 9 in. in diameter at the thickest end, of Scotch pines, larches, spruce- firs, oaks, alders, and a few other which grow straight, and in every case we prefer them with the bark kept on. These can be formed into a great variety of structures, « m useful and ornamental, at a very little expense beyond that of the labour of the carpenter.” oN'1 d T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. ’ z J 0. T.J.RICAUTI ARCH T , DELIN ET ZINC. •s f' •• ‘m v '- • - MmM PL, N-, II. T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. ' ' HALF AN INCH TO A FOOT. T.J.RICAUTI ARCH T DELIN ET ZINC- . % ■ GATE-LODGE, ETC. The plates IV. V. and VI. contain the plans, elevations, and perspective view of a small building to answer the purpose of a Gate-lodge, with a place for tools, to the left of the lodge-keeper’s room, and a seed-room, in addition to the keeper’s bed-room in the floor above. Lodges of this description always harmonize well with park scenery, and, although, the author would by no means, recommend such a design to be placed in the immediate vicinity of a mansion or villa, built in any of the regular styles of architec¬ ture ; he would, certainly, consider a cottage so constructed, as the most appropriate for an entrance to the grounds leading to any of the old half-timbered houses ; such as Pitchford Hall, near Shrewsbury, a seat of the Earl of Liverpool; Meer Hall, near Droitwich, belonging to Edward Bearcroft, Esq.; Bramall Hall, near Stockport, the seat of Sir Salusbury Humphreys, K.C.H., &c.; and many others in various parts of the country. » To persons unacquainted with architecture, this design will appear very orna¬ mental, and, of course, very expensive ; but the fact is, there is not a single ornament introduced, except the verge-boards to the principal gables ; and these are merely to be cut out of deal planks 1 ft. 3 in. wide by 2i in. thick ; the edges beveled, and small spikes fixed to receive a number of pine-cones about 6 in. long by 3h in diameter, as bosses. The author has had one prepared, and suspended for more than 7 months; he is sure they will only require looking over once in 12 months ; and then, if some of them should have split open, or become decayed, a carpenter in an hour or two, could reinstate the whole. The author would, decidedly, recommend the colour of the pine- cone to be imitated as near as possible, by a mixture of burnt umber and boiled oil, for the whole timber frame-work of the building; which must be strongly secured to the concrete plinth, and all the insterstices filled in with concrete. No colouring- matter whatever, should be applied to it, for, in about a month or two, it will be just the tint required. The expenses, under favourable circumstances, would not exceed iH10. '013 lOQOl 3-LVO > 2 J CL T.J.fflCAUTl ARCHT QEL1N ET ZINC. 1 - . . m • sol WM I gate:- lodge, etc. T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. - ■ - .*■ 'IA'oN ‘ Id T.J.RICAUTI arch t delin et zinc. . WINTER HOUSE FOR PLANTS. The design for a rustic Plant-house as explained by the plan and elevation, (Plate VII.) and the perspective sketch (Plate VIII.) is proposed to be framed of timber, on a brick or concrete foundation, and glazed with “ patent sheet glass; ” the advantage of which is that the openings (as shewn in elevation) can be glazed in single sheets, without increase of price, or liability to breakage from trivial accidents .” There is a stove-room at the back ; and the flue is shewn to be under the floor of house by the dotted lines on the plan. The methods of heating such structures are so numerous, that probably, the less that is said upon the subject by a young architect the better. Thatch being the only covering used for the roofs of all the buildings in this work, on account of its rustic character. The author will here repeat the observations he has made, in describing the first design in his work, entitled “ Rustic Architecture;” and, if a pleasing effect, as well as durability and economy be required, the following remarks should be strictly attended to. “The best description of reed for the thatch, is that which has had the ears of corn ‘cut off/ instead of being ‘thrashed out/ and the straw considerably damaged by the flail; this covering when laid on in whole pipes is found to last longer than either slate or tile; and in addition to its other good qualities, may be mentioned, the fact of its being the best protection from the winter’s cold or summer’s heat. It has been stated, that if the reed be saturated with a solution of chalk and potash, it becomes, in a great measure, secure from fire.” The most effectual method, however, of making reed incombustible, is to saturate with the following preparation :—To five gallons of a solution of lime in water (as commonly used for white-wash,) add a little size and lib of alum, and to every two gallons of this mixture add lib of green copperas, this will change the thatch to that sober brown colour, so pleasing to the eye, but which otherwise can only be produced by time. The copperas will also act as an additional preservative from fire, vermin, &c. This design could easily be changed to a Green-house by framing the roof for glass, instead of thatch; but it would require some little taste on the part of the designer, and should by no means be attempted by the mere workman. The expense of erecting this structure would be about 60 or £ 70 . WINTER HOUSE FOR PLANTS T.J.RICAUTI ARCHt DE LIN ET ZINC. 'IIIA'oN ‘ Id T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. GARDENER’S COTTAGE, WITH FRUIT-ROOMS. The Design explained by the Ground-plan, and plan of Upper floor, (Plate IX.) The Entrance and Garden elevations (Plate X.) and the Scenic view (PlateXI.) has been made at the suggestion of J. C. Loudon, Esq. F.L.S. &c. and is designed in strict accordance with the principles advocated by Dr. Lindley in the “ Gardener’s Chronicle” of September 18th, and October 2nd, 1841the substance of which is given below. The room for preparing the fruit, is situated just within the entrance; from this room there is a staircase leading to the summer Fruit-room, as shewn in the upper plan. The only opening to the principal Fruit-room, (except the small window, for light and ventilation) is from the trap-door as marked on the plan; so that after the fruit has been sweated, it must be carefully taken through the trap-door, and arranged in the Fruit room with equal care by the gardener. On the ground plan there is also a Gardener’s room, 11-ft. Gin. by 8-ft.; and in the upper floor, a bed room, 11-ft. 6-in. by 9-ft. The estimate would amount to about .£160. “ The principles which ought to guide the designer are, darkness, a low and steady temperature, dryness to a certain point, for apples are found to keep best in a rather damp atmosphere, and exclusion of the external air. If the light of the sun strikes upon a plant, the latter immediately parts with its moisture by perspiration, in proportion to the force exercised on it by the sun, and independently of temperature. The greatest amount of perspiration takes place beneath the direct rays of the sun, and the smallest in those places to which daylight reaches with most difficulty. Now, the surface of a fruit perspires like that of a leaf, although not to the same amount. When a leaf perspires while growing on a tree, is is immedi¬ ately supplied with more water from the stem, and thus is enabled to bear the loss produced by light striking on its surface ; but when a leaf is plucked it withers, because there is no longer a source of supply for it. So it is with a fruit: while growing on the tree, it is perpetually supplied by the stem with water enough to replace that which is all day long flying off from its surface; but, as soon as it is gathered, that source of supply is removed, and then, if the light strikes it ever so feebly, it loses weight, without bein g able to replace its loss. It is thus that fruit becomes shriveled and withered prematurely. Light should there¬ fore have no access to a good fruit-room. Temperature should be low and uniform. If it is high, that is to say, much above 40°, the juices of the fruit will have a tendency to decompose, and thus decay will be accelerated; if, on the contrary, it is below 32°, decomposition of another kind is produced, in consequence of the chemical action of freezing. In any case, fluctuations of temperature are productive of decay. A steady temperature of 35° to 40°, with a dry atmosphere, will be found the best for most kinds of fruit. Some pears of the late kinds, are however, better for being kept in a temperature as high as 60°, for this ripens them, deprives them of their grittiness, and improves their quality very essentially. We do not, however, conceive that the general construction of the fruit-room ought to be altered on their account; we would rather make some special arrangement for such cases. The air should be kept moderately dry, but ventilation should not be used except for the purpose of removing offensive smells, arising from the putrefaction of the fruit. Ventilation by continued currents Of air carries off from fruit the moisture which it contains, and thus acts in the same way as light, in producing shriveling, and destroying that plump appearance which gives its beauty to fruit. Another reason against ventilation is, that an equable temperature is scarcely to be maintained when the air is constantly changed. The sweating of fruit throws so much moisture into the air, that ventilation is necessary to remove it; but the sweating ought always to be carried on in a place provided for the purpose. Great care should be taken in gathering, handling, and storing the fruit, placing each kind by itself, and keeping wall-fruit apart from standard fruit. Gather in baskets, and place the fruit on the shelves side by side with their eyes downwards. When gathering and stowing are completed, shut the room as close as possible, and only open it when fruit is wanted. Construction of a Fruit-room .—The situation should be near the gardeners’ house, and the size sufficient to contain the whole of the winter fruit spread out on shelves, in layers of one fruit in thickness. The walls should be rendered frost-proof, by building them hollow, or covering them externally with a casing of thatch or soil. Windows are not necessary, but, as they are convenient, they should be small, with double sashes and inside shutters, which may be wadded, the more effectually to retain the heat. The ceiling should be rendered frost-proof by a roof of thatch, by pugging with hay, or by having a chamber over it. In this chamber summer fruit can be placed, and winter fruit may be sweated, and throughout the year the dessert prepared; though for this a small room on the ground floor would be found more convenient. The communication from the chamber to the fruit-room might be by a trap-door; and ventilation can be produced, when required, by opening the outer door of the fruit-room, the trap in its ceiling, and the windows of the chamber, when the air is not below 36°. In all cases the room must be built on a dry bottom. If the situation is low, the foundations must be raised in proportion, so as to elevate it completely above the damp of the earth; and if it is floored with “ concrete,” or some substance impervious to moisture, and in which mice cannot burrow, so much the better. It must be dry. Supposing that space enough can be afforded, the fruit-room would be improved by being divided into two or three compartments, to separate the ripening fruit from that which will be later. In such a case, the door should be at the end of the fruit-room, and the fruit which first ripens should be next the door, while that which is latest should be stored up in the furthest compartment. The reason for such an arrangement is, that the compartment next to the door may be ventilated without opening the other divisions *, and, as ripening fruit requiries more ventilation than such as is still immature, this is an important provision. Then, when the first division is empty, the second can be opened and ventilated without interfering with the third. In such a case, however, where a chamber is over a room, the second and third compartments must have chimneys carried through the floor of the chamber. The interior should be fitted up with shelves of open-work of white deal, or some other wood that will not give an unpleasant taste to the fruit. There should be a table on which to place the baskets when the fruit is first brought in, and also for taking it out; and there should be wooden boxes, or earthen jars, in which to pack particular varieties.” X or z J £L T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. m * . . * « . - GARDENERS COTTAGE WITH FRUIT-ROOMS. X ■>’ Z a. * T.J. RICAUTI, ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. ‘ PL,N“ XI , T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. PIGEON-HOUSE. Plate No. XII.—Is the plan and elevation of a design for an Octagonal Dove-cot, to the scale of one quarter of an inch to a foot. The plan is taken on the line from A to B in elevation, and shews the square holes for nests, 32 in number ,* and also the eight openings for the pigeons, with outside projecting shelves for them to alight on. The little shutters to these openings should be made of zinc about the eighth of an inch thick, and grooves formed at the sides so that the shutters may slide easily up or down. (Tiles of a thin heavy nature would answer the same purpose.) To these shutters strong cords are attached, as shewn by the eight lines radiating to the centre on plan ; these cords run along just under the rafters until within a few inches of the centre, where they pass through small rings strongly fixed, and from thence to a large ring in the trap door. By this means it will be seen that when the trap is pushed up the shutters will slide down, and any of the birds can be caught. Great care must be taken to keep the interior free from vermin, and frequently whitewashed. A pitcher-fountain should also be placed on the floor, which will give the birds a constant supply of water, and very little trouble to their keeper. Pigeons seem to delight in pecking at a lump of bay-salt, and as it is beneficial to them in a medicinal point of view, a lump should always be placed very near the dove-cot; in addition to this, some salted clay placed here, and there, will tend to make them more attached to their habitation. The dotted outline on the plan shews the projection of thatch. Plate, No. XIII.—Garden-Gate and Fence, half an inch to a foot. Fences of this description may be designed in an immense variety of forms, and if guided by the hand of taste will always have a pleasing effect. PI C.EON - HOUSE. T.J.RICAUTI ARCHT DELIN ET ZINC. HALF AN INCH TO A FOOT. X m' 2 J £L