VIEWS OF
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
London

THE WESTERN FAÇADE.

The first stone of S. Paul’s Cathedral was laid by Sir Christopher Wren and his Master-mason on June 21, 1675; the last stone of the lantern above the Dome was laid in 1710, by Mr. Christopher Wren (who was born a year before the laying of the first stone), in the presence of Sir Christopher (his father), Mr. Strong (the Master-builder), and other Free and Accepted Masons.

The dimensions of the Cathedral, as given in the Rev. Lewis Gilbertson’s excellent Official Guide, are as follows:—

The exterior length, exclusive of the projection of the steps, 515 feet; the interior, 479 feet; the width across the Transepts, from door to door, 250 feet; width across Nave and Aisles, 102 feet; and between the stone piers, 41 feet; the Western front, 180 feet; the diameter of the octagonal area at the crossing of Nave and Transept, 107 feet; the diameter of the drum beneath the Dome, 112 feet; of the Dome itself, 102 feet. The height of the Central Aisle, 89 feet. The total height from the pavement of the Churchyard to the top of the Cross, 365 feet; the height of the Western Towers, 221 feet. The entire cost seems to have been about a million pounds.

The exquisite Dome has been justly called “the very crown of England’s architectural glory.” As Mr. Fergusson has said, “its dimensions, the beauty of its details, the happy outline of the campaniles, the proportion of these to the façade, and of all the parts one to another, make up the most pleasing design of its class that has yet been executed.” Strype says, “This Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent modern buildings in Europe.”

THE WESTERN FAÇADE.

S. PAUL’S FROM THE SOUTH WEST.

This fine view was taken from the top of the buildings of the Post Office Savings Bank in Queen Victoria Street: taken, fortunately, before the erection of the large block of warehouses at the south west of the Churchyard. Since these buildings have been completed the lower part of the Cathedral can no longer be seen from the position just indicated. The exquisite proportions of the Dome are here displayed to the fullest advantage.

S. PAUL’S FROM THE SOUTH WEST.

S. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, WEST FRONT, N.W. ANGLE.

Here is seen a part of the Western Façade, with the noble flight of steps, the North Portico, and the North Eastern portion of the Churchyard. The columns with their capitals and the carving over the window in the lower part of the North Tower, are well displayed. In ancient times the Palace of the Bishops of London adjoined this tower.

S. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, WEST FRONT, N.W. ANGLE.

THE SOUTH TRANSEPT.

The beauty of the South West Campanile is well displayed in the present view. To the east of the small entrance door, which gives access to the geometrical staircase, is the Chapel of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, at one time used as the Consistory Court, in which ecclesiastical cases relating to the diocese were heard. Above the Chapel are seen the three windows of the Library.

The Transept