WCP104

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

March 5^th. 1905

My dear Will

I have had two or three interviews with Mr. Arch? Smith the Archt. About the attics as there are several points of difficulty, which however we have now got no over, and he has no doubt when finished the roof wl will be quite as strong as it is now. The chief difficulty is in stiffening the rafters of the main roof when the struts to the centre wall are taken away, and at the same time to put no weight on the ceiling joints, which are already rather weak for a floor. The sketch on the other side will show the plan finally adopted. The pencil lines show the existing wall, roof, and [2] struts (of which there are 5 or 6). When these struts are removed the roof will tend to sag in, the length between the new ceiling and the floor line (A_B) being too great. Too obviate this Mr. S. proposed a trussed girder on each side resting on outer wall of house at one end and on the partition wall of landing upstairs, about 18 ½ or 19 feet apart. [The following one sentence wraps around a sketch of the trussed girder]. This girder being 5 ft. deep will be stiff enough to support the roof easily, and also to take some of the weight off the floor, strengthening instead of weakening it. The new ceiling will also tie the roof at top and thus it will be stronger than before. But just as we had settled this, we found that this truss would rest [3] at the outer end not on solid wall but above the first upright of the large windows below! and this would be dangerous! [A sketch of the home appears above this sentence] There is an arch over the window, but the width is so great and the arch so flat, that it would not be safe to put the extra weight of the roof on it. He therefore proposes to support the wall above it with a 3 in. or 3 ½ iron column placed just in [4] front of the window frame division resting on the brick of wall below and supporting the wood transom above. That, he says will be as strong as a solid wall. For symmetry a wood column will be put on the opp. side of the windows. [The following one sentence was written vertically up the left hand side of the current page] This will look quite architectural.

Similar trusses will go across the other rooms, but these are smaller, and though there are some awkward places they can be got over. The bay, window to light stairs and hall will be raised nearly 6 feet into an octagon Turret, which will be quite ornamental, & there will be a dormer window in each of the smaller bedrooms. The Arch^t. Is taking a great interest in it and he has a builder he can trust. I shall have the estimate in a week or two, & will let you know what it is. I am at work daily at the Auto. B. — getting on well, but still a lot to do.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]