Yours truly,
As usual, when in difficulties Spinlove looks about for advice—a bad habit, for it is only by settling things for himself that he will learn to make decisions. At the same time, he is right to confer with the builder on this matter, before acting.
(PERSONAL) GRIGBLAY TO SPINLOVE
Sir, 17.6.26.
I return herewith Quince and Jarrad’s latest. It is their usual pack of nonsense, but it may be an awkward job to get the old gentleman to agree. I think, Sir, I had better have a talk over. I can make convenient on Saturday at 11.30 if you will kindly confirm by phone, and oblige,
Yours truly,
We may suppose that Spinlove gained great advantage from his talk with Grigblay.
SPINLOVE TO QUINCE AND JARRAD
Dear Sir, 21.6.26,
I have received from Sir Leslie Brash your report on the drains at Honeywood Grange, of which house I happen to be the architect. I must protest that it is most unfair of you to give mere differences of opinion the appearance of condemnations. You find no actual fault in the arrangements anywhere, and yet you have led my client to believe the drainage of his house is insanitary. You even tell him that the joint of lead waste to gully has not been made, without troubling to look to see whether it has been or not.
Yours faithfully,
It was undignified of Spinlove to write this letter, and also not worth while, for Messrs. Q. and J. probably receive a good many like it, and some that are more violent.
QUINCE AND JARRAD TO SPINLOVE
Sir, 22.6.26.
We have the honour to acknowledge your letter informing us that you do not agree with our views re drains Honeywood Grange, and which we may say we are not surprised to hear as we happen to know our own business.
The differences of opinion you refer to are quite common and have no signification whatever, being quite usual with architects.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servants,
Spinlove asked for something of this sort. Q. and J. have not used their gold-embossed bank-note stationery for this letter.
SPINLOVE TO BRASH
Dear Sir Leslie Brash, 22.6.26.
I could not write to you on the subject of Messrs. Quince and Jarrad’s report until I had thoroughly investigated the points raised.
I do not think that you yourself read the report closely, or you would not have formed the opinion that the drains are insanitary. Although the report is drawn in such a way as to lead you to a contrary impression, no fault is anywhere found, as you will, see, either with the system or with the work; and attention is called to only two “defects.” One of those defects is not a defect in the drains at all, but a defect in Mr. Jarrad who tells you that a joint has been left unmade without troubling himself to see whether it has been or not; the second so-called “defect” is not an actual defect as, if it exists, it refers only to tests applied by Mr, Jarrad, and not to the normal use of the drains.
I am aware, Sir Leslie, that you will consider that I am on my defense, and will be reluctant to accept my views; but I am glad to say that I am not called upon to defend myself, and for your own peace of mind I ask you to hear me out with patience for I shall confine myself to showing what the report does actually say. Before I do this I should like to point out that the whole of the matters stressed by red lettering, except the two above mentioned, are mere expressions of opinion, and do not involve the question of sanitary soundness in any way whatever; and also that this difference of opinion is in all cases due to the fact that, while I designed the system so as to avoid unnecessary expense, Messrs. Quince and Jarrad’s ideas are of the most extravagant and costly kind. I enclose the report and take the red-lettered points in their order.
“The aerobic filter might well be bigger and the tipper set 9 ins. higher. Gun metal bushes and trunnions are desirable, as in course of time rust will interfere with action of tipper.”
The filter and tipper are the standard device of Wreek & Co., who are leading specialists in the work. I cut out the bronze bushes, W., as being needlessly costly.
“We prefer detritus chambers and manholes to be lined with glazed brick. Also the effluent channels would be better in glazed ware. We recommend tallow for sealing manhole covers.”
Glazed brick is expensive, and here quite unnecessary for sanitary efficacy. The rims are sealed with axle grease, which is usual. The sealing, in any case, is a counsel of perfection.
“The glazed channel discharging waste from scullery sinks over grease trap is unnecessary and objectionable.”
As this channel is required by the local Sanitary Authority it is necessary, and the Local Government Board does not agree that the arrangement is objectionable or it would not describe it in its Model Bye-laws.
“The ventilation of the drains is sluggish. We recommend the up-and-down-cast system in preference to the up-cast here employed.”
Messrs. Quince and Jarrad are in a minority among sanitary engineers if they hold this opinion; the up-cast is almost universally employed. The sluggishness was due to Messrs Q. and J.’s representative having wetted and thoroughly chilled the pipes before he tested for ventilation. Mr. Grigblay will at any time demonstrate to you that the system ventilates properly.
“That lavatory wastes discharge over open rainwater heads near to windows. This arrangement is most objectionable as, when the down pipe and head get fouled, air passing up the pipe will smell offensively. We recommend lead waste pipes properly ventilated and discharging through inlets under grids of gullies as employed near the front entrance.”
This condition may arise in the future. When it does, it can be readily cured by cleansing the pipes. It does not exist to-day. The arrangement I have adopted has much to recommend it, in addition to effecting great saving in cost. As nearly all the bedrooms have lavatory basins, Messrs. Quince and Jarrad’s device would cover the elevations with a network of pipes with ventilating branches standing up above eaves.
“We much prefer and always recommend cast-iron waste and soil pipes in place of the lead used at Honeywood.”
As in an hotel or workhouse! The associations of domestic architecture favour lead, and Messrs. Quince and Jarrad do not say—and cannot say—that lead pipes are not at least as sound as any other.
“The lead bath and lavatory waste by front entrance has been merely pushed through the gully inlet and not jointed to it.”
This is not the case. A flanged ring has been wiped to the lead and jointed to the stoneware in cement, as anyone could discover who wanted to know.
“The plate on clearing eye at the junction of the soil pipe vent by north-east gable has not been properly bedded, and allows foul air to escape from the drain.”
I will have this plate taken off and re-bedded, but as there is, for all practical purposes, never more pressure inside the open vent than outside, leakage cannot take place; if there were any leakage it would be of no consequence as the whole purpose of ventilation is to prevent the air in the drain from getting poisonous, and if it became foul the position of the plate at the side of the gable and above the main eaves gutter would still make the matter of no consequence. The leak can only exist when the ends of ventilating pipes are stopped and air pumped into the drains under pressure.
I have written at some length, Sir Leslie, but at not, I hope, too great a length. If any doubts still remain of the soundness of the drains, I hope you will let me know what they are.
Yours sincerely,
This letter would have been more dignified if Spinlove had denied himself backhanders at Messrs. Quince and Jarrad, whose destruction would also have been more complete if Spinlove had made his points coolly instead of with warmth. The tone of the letter is unprofessional; but Spinlove’s relations with Brash-who long ago made fervour, rather than decorum, the characteristic note of their interchanges-excuse it. Except for this he seems to have done extremely well and has given Brash grounds to be most grateful to him. With Grig
blay’s help and guidance (the “defect in Mr. Jarrad” obviously originated with Grigblay) he has thoroughly mastered the facts, and applied himself to make a most effective display of them; and he accomplishes a difficult task with a tact which even touches on charm—a most unusual achievement for him. It has been apparent that Spinlove is decently educated, and here we particularly see his advantage in this respect. The position is an awkward one, for Brash has been led by Spinlove’s own lack of gumption to doubt his architect’s capacity in matters of sanitation and, as we know, has a high opinion of Quince and Jarrad which is rooted in snobbery and therefore almost indestructible. Brash has no technical knowledge of drains, yet it is for him to decide between the conflicting opinions of architect and expert, whether his drainage arrangements are perfectly sanitary, or not; and if Spinlove cannot reestablish himself with his client and persuade him to his views, it is difficult to say what may not happen.
GRIGBLAY TO SPINLOVE
Dear Sir, 21.6.26.
You directed us to let you know if we were asked to make any structural alterations at Honeywood. Her Ladyship lately asked us to fix a grate she has bought, in the boxroom, and this we have done with a bit of pipe carried well up into the flue serving the small servants’ bedroom (No. 5) on the second floor, by her Ladyship’s orders. We do not know whether this is what you mean by structural work, but think well to mention the matter. Her Ladyship says the fireplace in No. 5 will never be used.
Yours faithfully,
A fireplace in a boxroom is scarcely to be found in the most lavishly equipped house, and it is a mystery how anyone could imagine any kind of use for one there. Two fireplaces connected to one flue are likely to give complete satisfaction only while neither of them is in use.
BRASH TO SPINLOVE
My dear Mr. Spinlove, 24.6.26.
I have to confess that I read your communication anent sanitation with some impatience, but after carefully reperusing your arguments I am inclined to regard Messrs. Quince and Jarrad’s proposals as unnecessarily redundant. Although I make no pretence of being a sanitary expert myself, I certainly agree with you that excessive costliness of refinements are inappropriate when not visually evident. There are certain aspects of the matter I desire to discuss with you, but so far as I can judge you have demonstrably answered Messrs. Quince and Jarrad’s criticisms, and you will be glad to know that the odoriferous conditions are now rapidly ameliorating; in fact, they appear to have eventually dissipated, for though Lady Brash has been expectantly apprehensive no undesirable olfactory evidences have, I understand, been lately detected.
In view of the fact that the sanitary provisions are not—as Messrs. Quince and Jarrad led me to suppose—defective, I shall expect those gentlemen to allow me a substantial discount off the heavy fee of twenty guineas they have the effrontery to ask for their superfluous services.
Lady Brash informs me that we are to anticipate the pleasure of your company during the week-end. I shall then have an opportunity of discussing various matters with you.
With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
This is a triumph for Spinlove. It is to be hoped that Brash is grateful to him. He certainly seems to be, but his unusual good humour may be chiefly due to his having got this tormenting question of the drains settled, and Lady Brash appeased. Why these troublesome smells should so suddenly disappear is a mystery; but then it is also a mystery why they should ever have existed—if they ever did exist outside Lady Brash’s imagination.
Messrs. Quince and Jarrad, by Spinlove’s showing, here cut a sorry figure; but in point of fact they belong to an order of men to whom society has been in the past greatly indebted. It has to be remembered that what are now commonplaces of sanitary decency were, sixty years ago, only taking shape in the minds of scientific inquirers; and that forty years ago the general application of modern principles of sanitation was an innovation bolstered by public panic. In those days doctors, faced with the complicated symptoms of patients who had nothing wrong with them, had only to say, “Are you sure there is nothing wrong with the drains?” to escape with honour from the field. The nobility and gentry—who, we noticed, are patrons of Quince and Jarrad—were obsessed with drains, which thereupon became fashionable just as appendicitis did a few years later. Country gentlemen talked drains over the wine after dinner, compared drains on their way home from church, and rivalled one another in the renown of their sanitary adventures. There was scarcely a house in the country which was not, according to present ideas, poisonous; and none that was what we would consider sanitary. Throughout the country, people who would spend nothing on anything else were eager to celebrate themselves with drains, and this work was in great measure done-and thoroughly well done-by the forerunners of Quince and Jarrad.
The firm’s fantastic test-exactions and extravagant ideas are also, for them, unavoidable, for if after they have approved the sanitation of a house the drains are surveyed by another expert in order to satisfy the covenant of a lease or conveyance, or because of a suspicious case of illness, and this rival expert, by more exacting refinements of test or stringency of standards, reports a defect or imperfection, Quince and Jarrad might be liable for damages, and in any case the reputation upon which their very existence depends would suffer. This danger is so imminent that firms of the standing of Quince and Jarrad will apologize for the stringency of their tests and the triviality of their objections even while making them. This is perfectly understandable. The expert tells the owner exactly what sort of drains he has got; that is the expert’s responsibility: the owner decides whether to risk living in the house or not; that is the owner’s responsibility, and the expert’s comment, “I should not hesitate to live there myself, “ and so forth, does not shift those responsibilities. If Spinlove is ever called upon to re-drain a house he would benefit by knowing this-however, it is not likely he will be, for old houses have nearly all now been re-drained, and new ones do not need it.
A DISPUTE
GRIGBLAY TO SPINLOVE
Dear Sir, 24.6.26.
As arranged in your interview with Mr. Grigblay on the 10th, we have been in correspondence with Messrs. Hoochkoft on the subject of refund of their charge for picking facings. We enclose copies of letters and wait your further instructions re same.
As Mr. Grigblay reminded you, the bricks were selected by you and ordered by us to your instructions without our seeing samples, and were inspected by you on delivery. You afterwards informed us you had arranged with Hoochkoft to send their picked quality, and we paid them for picked as per their quotation to you.
We must again press for certificate for £1,316 3s. Id. Mr. Grigblay understood from you that certificate would follow, and we expected it would be received before now as it is a long time overdue.
Yours faithfully,
(ENCLOSURE 1) GRIGBLAY TO HOOCHKOFT
Dear Sirs, 16.6.26.
The architect objects to your charge of 28s. extra for picked facings over your original quotation of 147s. per thou. He states you agreed to pick over free of charge, as the bright-reds objected to were not according to approved sample. We will thank you accordingly for refund of £92 overcharge paid you by us in error.
Yours faithfully,
(ENCLOSURE 2) HOOCHKOFT TO GRIGBLAY
Dear Sirs, 21.6.26.
Mr. James Spinlove gave us order for picked as per our special quote to him of 175s. per thou. as duly invoiced by us which please note is correct and oblige.
Yours faithfully,
Spinlove handled this matter badly. Instead of getting samples and quotations through the builder, he dealt direct with Hoochkoft and told Grigblay to order a certain broken-colour brick at a certain price without sending him the approved samples or otherwise letting him know what bricks he was to expect. He also did not definitely rule out a bright-red under-burnt sample to which he objected, and Hoochkofit accepted the order, perceiving that they could contend that their bright-reds had not been exclu
ded. The bright-reds, to the amount of about 15 percent of the whole, were delivered, and were used by Grigblay until Spinlove stopped him. Spinlove then had a wrangle with Hoochkoft, who asked 35s. a thousand bricks extra for picking out the bright-reds, which charge Spinlove refused to allow on the grounds that Hoochkoft had agreed to exclude the bright-reds. Hoochkoft then reduced their claim for extra price to 28s. and, by manipulating an ambiguity, led Spinlove to write them a letter that night be interpreted as agreeing to the extra price, although the opposite was intended by him.
SPINLOVE TO HOOCHKOFT
Dear Sirs,26.6.26.
Mr. Grigblay has sent me copy of your letter to him stating that I agreed an extra price for picked facings.
I did nothing of the kind. As you are well aware, I refused to countenance the extra. I cannot pass your account for more than the rate of 147s. a thousand originally quoted, and accepted, and I have so informed Mr. Grigblay.
Yours faithfully,
By yielding to impatience and showing bad manners Spinlove throws away the advantage he has in knowing better than to do so. If it comes to a slanging match he will have no chance against Hoochkoft. He also makes a great mistake in asserting himself’ before he knows what position Hoochkoft takes, for if he is forced later on to withdraw, he will lose ground that he might otherwise hold. The vehemence of his letter, too, is a sign of weakness. If he were sure of his case he would not be so noisy in proclaiming it.
Honeywood Settlement Page 9