”Metropolitan Sights” Agreeably to announcement, Mr. Brett delivered his fifth lecture on this subject to the members of the Mechanics’ Institution on Tuesday, the 26th of March. The lecture was interspersed with musical illustrations (both vocal and instrumental) which, together with sundry poetic readings, annecdotes(sic) and sketches of character, rendered the affair one of an amusing description. Not that the lecturer neglected to place before his audience those more solid and utilitarian features which have characterised his previous lectures; but by taking his hearers, as it were, to visit the “thousand and one” sights of London in a systematic manner, and in the way in which they present themselves to an enquiring mind, - expatiating on their virtues and denouncing their vices, - his object appeared to be fully realized; and, thus, notwithstanding that his audience was detained half an hour beyond the usual time, there were no signs of weariness or impatience exhibited. The entertainment – for such we are wont to call it – elicited frequent applause, and at its conclusion a vote of thanks was accompanied by an expressed wish that an unavoidably omitted portion would be given on a future evening.
This concluded what might be called the winter session of lectures at St. Leonards. Those at Hastings for the same period are enumerated in the next chapter.
Magdalen Church Tower.
The tower and belfry of the St. Mary Magdalen church was completed on the 23rd of August, and the elegant edifice which had remained several years in an unfinished state, appeared for the first time more in conformity with the architect’s design. At the time of its erection, for the want of sufficient funds, the harmony and beauty of the church were marred by the non-construction of the spire. An attempt was at length made to remedy the defect by raising the required amount of money, and a contract was entered into with Messrs. Hughes and Hunter, of St. Leonards, to supply the necessary materials and handicraft for the superstructure. There were, however, substantial reasons for deviating somewhat from the original design, and instead of a spire of about 70 feet in height, the temporary roof was removed from the partly built tower, and thirty feet of additional masonry was placed thereon. This was done in such a manner as not to preclude the carrying out the original plan should it at any future time be deemed desirable. The additions included a belfry, four windows, with elegant traceries, space for a clock, a neat parapet, surmounted at the north-west corner by an additional turret, finished buttresses, steeple, gilt vane, &c. All things considered, the work was a credit both to the architect, Mr. F. Marrable, and the contractor, Mr. H. Hughes, which latter, after the dissolution of the firm of Hughes and Hunter, completed the undertaking in the most satisfactory manner.
