THE DOME OF ST. PAUL'S IN DANGER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3132, 28 August 1922, Page 2

THE DOME OF ST. PAUL'S IN DANGER.

—» Tlic great dome of St. l'aul's ie in danger. Unlews restorative work is begun almost immediately it may be ne- ; cTOsai-y, at no distant date, to close; the cathedral to the public. Tin's, brief-,! ly. is the moaning of what practicallyj \h an S'.O.S. report issuied by a eom-f mission of three famous engineers and.,, two architects, appointed' to invosti-fj gate the condition of Wren's master-' piece. The Dean and Chapter of the cathedral have issued an appeal for the i'loo,ooo, in order that the work of* saving the endangered dome may bop begun at once. "The report does liotU constitute the commission's linal recom-fc uiendations." said Canon S. A. Alex-v under, treasurer of St. Paul's. "Thej work of facing the stone of tint 1 two! southern piers supporting the dome,! begun in IDl.'b is now almost complete.! It is found, however, that if the safetyß of the building is to be preserved. siini-| lai' work must be carried out on each! of the six other piers. There is, at! the moment, no question of settlement.l ;.s was once suggested; it is simply that! the stone work has deteriorated, and! that the ravages of time must be re-| paired' if the cathedral is to be prc-l served. J understand that one of thei northern piers has an ominously hollowi sound. Even now I cannot say defi-l nitcly whether or not it will be neccs-l sarv'to close the cathedral in the in-l tereste of public sa.fe.tv." 1