Blueprints for St. Paul's
June 8, 2011 7:09 PM Subscribe
Please help me find blueprints or other architectural diagrams for St. Paul's Cathedral, circa 1940 or earlier.
I am particularly interested in any blueprints or diagrams that lay out the hidden intricacies of the building, such as the hidden roofs, stairways and hallways.
I am also very interested in how the St. Paul's Fire Watch used these hallways and stairways to fight fires in St. Paul's during the London Blitz of 1940. So any information on St. Paul's Fire Watch and their work at St. Paul's would also be greatly appreciated.
I am particularly interested in any blueprints or diagrams that lay out the hidden intricacies of the building, such as the hidden roofs, stairways and hallways.
I am also very interested in how the St. Paul's Fire Watch used these hallways and stairways to fight fires in St. Paul's during the London Blitz of 1940. So any information on St. Paul's Fire Watch and their work at St. Paul's would also be greatly appreciated.
Were you by any chance reading Connie Willis? If not, I highly suggest the short story Fire Watch. I seem to recall that her prelude to the text version includes a reference to a book full of info on the fire watch that she came across too late, but unfortunately I loaned my copy out - if you can find a print version of Fire Watch, you should be able to track it down.
posted by you're a kitty! at 9:46 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by you're a kitty! at 9:46 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh, never mind, I found it - it's Reverend Dean W. R. Matthews's St. Paul's in Wartime. A preliminary search didn't turn a copy up, though.
posted by you're a kitty! at 9:50 PM on June 8, 2011
posted by you're a kitty! at 9:50 PM on June 8, 2011
Best answer: Apprently, only 2,000 copies of Saint Paul's in Wartime, 1939-1945 were printed. I can't find a digital version, so I looked for physical copies:
£23
£28.50
And Amazon.uk has two, for £33.78 and £77.02, respectively.
If the guess that you might be after this book is incorrect, nevermind. :)
posted by unsound at 11:31 PM on June 8, 2011
£23
£28.50
And Amazon.uk has two, for £33.78 and £77.02, respectively.
If the guess that you might be after this book is incorrect, nevermind. :)
posted by unsound at 11:31 PM on June 8, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone!
Gyusan, I appreciate the references. And You're a Kitty and Unsound, St. Paul's in Wartime is best reference I have found on the fire watch. I actually own a copy.
And yes, YAK, I am a big fan of Connie Willis, not only Fire Watch but also Blackout and All Clear.
posted by cjets at 9:19 AM on June 9, 2011
Gyusan, I appreciate the references. And You're a Kitty and Unsound, St. Paul's in Wartime is best reference I have found on the fire watch. I actually own a copy.
And yes, YAK, I am a big fan of Connie Willis, not only Fire Watch but also Blackout and All Clear.
posted by cjets at 9:19 AM on June 9, 2011
Response by poster: I just wanted to give a special shout out and thank you to Gyusan who e-mailed me JPGs of blueprints of St. Pauls.
This is what makes Askme and the Mefi community special. Thank you!
posted by cjets at 12:37 PM on June 9, 2011
This is what makes Askme and the Mefi community special. Thank you!
posted by cjets at 12:37 PM on June 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Scientific American, July 1981 - cross sections of the Choir and dome.
Hoar, Frank. Introduction to English Architecture. p. 127 - cutaway view of the dome.
While you are at the library, any book on Wren will probably have some drawings of the dome.
posted by gyusan at 8:54 PM on June 8, 2011 [1 favorite]