Landaff.[sic]
Thursday evening
My dear Father,
I find the tracing of plans interesting enough & get considerable kudos for my performances. Mr Prichard <1> has got a good many good books on architecture and one on the arrangement of convents, on consulting the different plans in which I was confirmed in my opinion that the present kitchen at Lacock occupies the same site as the old one if it be not the actually the same building. I think we have now got the position of the kitchen right & the Refectory & the dormitory. The chapter house & the sacristy or vestry What is commonly called the nuns kitchen may possibly have been the sacristy. Hospitium. Mr Mackenzie Walcot <2> who wrote this book on conventual arrangement says the dormitory at Lacock was on the West side of the cloister, but I have little doubt that it was the large room of which the roof and walls still remain on the east side of the cloister (the usual position). The arrangement of most abbeys was almost exactly the same. Mr Prich[ard]<3> has been able to draw a plan of a good part of Margam Abbey, <4> which plan I have seen. It agrees perfectly: and by comparison with others , if I excavated in a particular pla spot there I should expect to find traces of the Kitchen. I believe however that the fact of the Orangery reaching to this spot has rendered it possible that any remains formerly there may have been destroyed. It would be a public benefit if somebody would publish a good work on the abbeys. By studying their plans you may conclude at once what a building is likely to be apart from its position apart from its character. Is Monnie Are Mamie <5> and Monnie <6> yet arrived at Edinburgh 13 Gt Stuart St or not? We have had some heavy storms of rain. Llandaff cathedral is a fine building but not on the scale of the English cathedrals. it [sic] has only got one plainish Perpendicular Tower at the on one side of the west door. Mr Prichard has designed another with a spire in 1st pointed on the other side of the door. th That is not however being carried out as yet but is waiting for funds. probably [sic] if the two western t the other western tower were rebuilt on the same design, the effect would be best as the west end is a 1st pointed one but it may be doubted what a strict antiquary would say to such a proposition. The finest feature at Llandaff is probably the 1st pointed nave which is very good, and a late Norman at arch at the entrance of the Lady Chapel is also very good. Some work is going on to the one to the Chapter House which is square & not very remarkeable [sic] enclo externally but which Mr Prichard is going to alter by giving it something of an octagonal & conical top. some work is going on to the stalls of the choir, in the sh addition of carved wooden figures. One satisfactory feature in these stalls is I think the use of inlaid wood. The cathedral unfortunately for its appearance stands just at the bottom of a hill & you dont see it a little way off on one side. The Ruined gate of the Bishop’s palace remains looking more baronial than ecclesiastical. There are several of Mr Prichards buildings about the place, two being opposite the windows here. Mr Prichard wants I believe to set up a little photography & so if you are not going to take the camera to Edinburgh I will take an opportunity of getting it over here we have . We have a place that will do capitally for a developing room. Probably if we worked with photography we should have to do it with dry plates bought, for to make them would take too much time. Hoping you are all well.
Your affect son
Charles.
[envelope:]
H Fox Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts.
Notes:
1. John Prichard, Welsh architect; Charles Henry Talbot apprenticed to.
2. Misspelling of Edward Charles Mackenzie Walcott (1821–1880), ecclesiologist. Church and Conventual Arrangement (London: Atchley and Company, 1861).
3. Written off the edge of page.
4. A 12th c. Cistercian monastery - WHFT's Welsh cousin, Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, 'Kit' (1803-1890), immensely wealthy landowner, mathematician & politician, built Margam Castle on its grounds. See also Doc. No: 08467
5. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal].
6. Rosamond Constance ‘Monie’ Talbot (1837–1906), artist & WHFT’s 2nd daughter.