THE LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL.
[To rue Homo or TER .Srsorrros."]
SIR,—Can you find room for a few words upon a matter of considerable public interest, the unexplained delay which has occurred in dealing with the designs submitted by the selected competitors for the proposed Liverpool Cathedral ? I observe that the Committee of the Imperial Institute have, within a few months, accepted Mr. Colcntt's plan, subject to modifica- tions, a decision not infrequent in such cases. But if my memory is not at fault, the Liverpool Committee formally requested architects to submit portfolios of their works as long ago as May, 1884, more than three years. From the number sent in at once, the Committee chose three,—there were four names, but practically only three competitors. The designs of these gentlemen were handed in at the end of 1885. After a year's consideration of these projects, Mr. Evan Christian, the accom- plished architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who drew up the instructions to the competitors, and who had been appointed by the Committee to report on the designs, expressed his preference, on the whole, for that of Mr. William Emerson, but took exception to some things which he thought required modification. So far as I am aware, nothing further has been done, and the designs, as well as Mr. Christian's report, are in a state of suspended animation.
Is this quite fair to the architects ? Does it tend to encourage competition ? The fate of the successful candidates for the work of building a new Admiralty and a new War Office was not a stimulus to the profession. Nor is it likely that a delay, now extending over six months, in the case of the Liverpool Cathedral will have a good effect. Thought, trouble, great outlay are expended on the production and preparation of these large and necessarily elaborate designs. Are they to go for nothing ? The Liverpool Committee may have good reasons for delay, but if so, they have not been stated. It is not a light thing to call for great plans, and leave the authors of them during a prolonged period absolutely uncertain whether they will ever get even an approximate eolatium for enormous trouble, anxiety, and cost in hard cash. If it be argued that no one of the schemes is indisputably suitable, common-sense and pro- fessional experience answer that it would be impossible to produce one which did not require some alterations. But even in that case, surely the compendious rejection should be accom- panied by a reasonable reward.
In any case, such an inordinate delay must operate as a dis- couragement to architects of standing, who will be reluctant to engage in important competitions where the results seem to be so absolutely uncertain. Besides, it is unreasonable to fine these gentlemen, who, after all, compete on the understanding that they will be honourably treated. Is it too much to ask public- spirited Liverpool for an explanation P
I need not tell you that I am not an architect, nor that I have no interest in the matter except such as belongs to ONE OF THE PUBLIC.
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