The ancient halls of the city guilds / drawn in lithography by Thomas R. Way, with some account of the history of the companies, by Philip Norman, F.S.A.

  • Way, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert), 1861-1913.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ancient halls of the city guilds / drawn in lithography by Thomas R. Way, with some account of the history of the companies, by Philip Norman, F.S.A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    one the most, it is often those of secondary importance, with means enough to meet their everyday requirements, but not to tempt them to rash architectural display. The home of such a Company is now and then by a happy coincidence, placed in some quiet lane into which the roai of London hardly penetrates. Thither, as to a harbour of refuge, we have found our way, after struggling with the full tide of traffic in the neighbourhood of the Bank or the Royal Exchange ; and seeing before us a quaint doorway with cleft pediment, surmounted by a shield of arms, we were tempted to ring the bell and to place ourselves under the charge of some kind official, who looked as if he ought by rights to have been dressed in a square-cut coat with long-flapped waistcoat and the other garments of a sober citizen of the reign of Queen Anne. Here we found not splendour but harmony ;ffie place seemed fashioned for the student and recluse, as much at least as for the man of business. . . . In such delightful nooks has Mr. Way refreshed his spirit, and drawn for us the quiet Courtyard, the massive Staircase with its turned balusters, the Court-room hung with the portraits of worthies, once famous, now for the most part foro-otten, and the well-proportioned Hall which still retains, in general plan at least, some hint of its medieval ancestry.