Restoration Work
Smirke was involved in Building restoration, several commissions coming to him via his official post in the Office of Works:
- Gloucester Cathedral (1807), Gothic screen behind the high altar removed 1873.
- Carlisle Cathedral (1809–11), repairs and alterations to the Fratry.
- Powis Castle (1815–18), restoration of battlements, window mullions etc.
- Savoy Chapel (1820–21), rebuilt south wall and added the west tower.
- Bodleian Library, Oxford (1830) repaired the roof and inserted a new ceiling in the upper reading room in the schools quadrangle.
- Clarendon Building, Oxford (1831) fitted up the interior as university offices.
- York Minster after the arson attack on the chancel of the cathedral in 1829, Smirke oversaw the restoration (1830–32), which involved rebuilding the roof and vaults plus the recreation of the choir stalls
- Palace of Westminster, (1834–37) he refaced the interior of Westminster Hall after the fire of 1834 and erected a temporary House of Lords within it.
- Banqueting House, Whitehall (1835–38) repairs and internal alterations.
- Mansion House, London (1836), redesign of the external steps to the portico.
- St. James's Palace (1836–37) refitted the interior of the Chapel Royal.
- Serjeant's Inn (1836–39) extensive reconstruction work, destroyed 1940 during the London Blitz.
Read more about this topic: Robert Smirke (architect)
Famous quotes containing the words restoration and/or work:
“Men who are occupied in the restoration of health to other men, by the joint exertion of skill and humanity, are above all the great of the earth. They even partake of divinity, since to preserve and renew is almost as noble as to create.”
—Voltaire [François Marie Arouet] (1694–1778)
“Individuality is founded in feeling; and the recesses of feeling, the darker, blinder strata of character, are the only places in the world in which we catch real fact in the making, and directly perceive how events happen, and how work is actually done.”
—William James (1842–1910)