38 C O N T E X T 9 3 : M A R C H 2 0 0 6 Book reviews Provincial genius Thomas Harrison: Georgian architect of Chester and Lancaster 1744–1829 John Champness, Centre for North-West Regional Studies, University of Lancaster, 2005, 152 pp, 68 b&w illustrations, ISBN 1 86220 169 2, £12.50 Thomas Harrison has long been an enigma among 18th century architects. Charles Cockerell wrote in his diary in 1828 that ‘Harrison is undoubtedly the noblest genius in architecture we have had’, and Sir John Summerson described him as ‘a man of outstanding ability’. DavidWatkin, in his recent history of English architecture, rated him as the finest of the Greek revivalists. Yet, Harrison was a provincial architect, whose work is largely restricted to the north-west of England, and to the cities of Lancaster and Chester in particular. Born inYorkshire, the son of a joiner, Harrison gained his understanding of classical architecture from a seven-year sojourn in Rome before starting his career at the relatively late age of 38. His first success was the Skerton Bridge at Lancaster of 1783-87, followed shortly by remodelling Lancaster Castle as a gaol and courthouse. But it is his sublime composition of Greek revival civic buildings at Chester Castle built between 1789 and 1815 that established his reputation. Until now there has been no publication on Harrison. The Centre for North-West Regional Studies at Lancaster University is to be congratulated in commissioning John Champness, the former conservation officer for Lancashire County Council to write this brief monograph. Champness makes few claims for original research: he draws on an unpublished doctoral thesis by Moira Ockrim of 1988 and the evidence of visiting the buildings. The strength of the book is a clear catalogue of works, both documented and less securely attributed, together with acute critical comment and local context. The concluding chapter on Harrison’s significance assesses the architect’s standing and why, in spite of his talent and ambition, he remained in the provinces. Champness speculates that Harrison sought and failed to make his way in London on his return from Rome, and makes a compelling case that his natural modesty and diffidence thereafter prevented him from becoming a national figure. Peter de Figueiredo, historic buildings inspector, English Heritage Cause and effect Structural Appraisal of Traditional Buildings Patrick Robson, Donhead Publishing, 2005, 408pp, sketches and illustrations throughout, ISBN 1 873394 68 3, £39.50 This publication is described as a second edition of the author’s 1991 book of the same title, but to call it a revised and expanded edition is to do it an injustice. Although it covers similar ground, it is so much expanded that it must be regarded as a completely new book. Very welcome it is too. The book, whose author is a chartered engineer, appears to be aimed at engineers. Nevertheless, the technical content is simply explained so as to make the text clearly understandable to surveyors and other non-engineers. The use of the word ‘traditional’ in a title can often be misleading. Does it mean current practice in general use, or historic construction? Fortunately, the scope is described in the preface, defining traditional as covering forms of construction that have been commonly used in the UK from medieval times to the present day. The author only excludes modern steel framing and reinforced concrete. The book is therefore particularly relevant to the conservation professional. The book follows the format of a textbook for those new to carrying out structural appraisals. It starts with an introductory section that covers, inevitably rather superficially, types of building. This includes roof trusses and brick, masonry and timber construction. A chapter follows this on the early use of iron, and then one on foundations, then on dating buildings. The section on causes of damage includes timber decay, metal corrosion (again) and ground movement. There is a useful table of common causes of damage, and another on possible faults in timber buildings. The former is arranged by cause of damage, rather than by visible defect or fault, as is the case with the latter. The first table is therefore more a checklist than an easy aid to identifying causes of defects. A great deal of useful information is included, but it is not easy to find the whole story on any one subject without careful use of the index. (The section on bats, for instance is locked away at the end of a chapter on masonry and earth). One building defect, which your reviewer comes across frequently, is the cracking of hard render applied to rubble masonry, not due to any structural movement but simply due to shrinkage in the render. This (after
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