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Designing the Pillar and Foundations

As architect A.D.Mason of Whitfield Partners writes in his article below, when designing the original Pillar Pierce would have chosen one of the classical orders for the column - Ionic, Doric, Corinthian etc - and then built it accordingly. We knew from the remains at Weybridge that  he had chosen Doric but then a chance discovery led to a conundrum. When researching Pierce in the British Museum, David Bieda found a reference to a drawing held in a cupboard which had remained unopened for many years - indeed a locksmith had to attend to open it. Inside was Pierce's original drawing. However, Pierce's hand-drawn figured dimensions did not match the actual drawing and neither quite tallied with the dimensions of the remains of the column at Weybridge.

Once Mason had solved the conundrum of designing the new Pillar, he presented the Trust with an extraordinary 40-foot high paper version in sections. They became the full size templates from which the trainee masons would work.

 

Left: Edward Pierce's design for Seven Dials. Right: Duchess of York's Monument, Weybridge.

 

 

For more detail, read below A.D. Mason's article Designing the Pillar and Foundations:

�Designing the Pillar and Foundations� from �Seven Dials� written by architect AD �Red� Mason

 

�Designing the Pillar and Foundations� from �Seven Dials� written by architect AD �Red� Mason

 

�Designing the Pillar and Foundations� from �Seven Dials� written by architect AD �Red� Mason

 

�Designing the Pillar and Foundations� from �Seven Dials� written by architect AD �Red� Mason

 

 

Borrowing a fire engine to measure out the foundation hoardings, 1985

We borrowed a fire engine to measure out the foundation hoardings, 1985.

First site hoardig for exploratory works

First site hoardings erected to protect exploratory work.

Architect A.D. Mason prepares to descend the sewers

Architect A.D. Mason prepares to descend the sewers.

Architects entering the nineteenth century sewers beneath The Dials   Architects descending nineteenth century sewers beneath The Dials

Architects from Whitfield Partners and Roger Howard, structural engineer Hockley & Dawson, entering the sewer.

Advertising on the protective hoardings raised funds for the project.

Advertising on the protective hoardings raised funds for the project.

Archaeologist searching the spoil.

Archaeologist searching the spoil.

 

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