Economical Houses (Publication)
Author Henry Goldsmith 63 Faulkner Street Manchester; Hale, Altrincham; and Rhos Point, Colwyn Bay.
ECONOMICAL HOUSES, by Henry Goldsmith, architect (Manchester: George Falkner and Sons, The Deansgate Press), is a well printed and bound volume of sketch-book shape, full of illustrations of houses, erected from the author's designs, of more or less artistic pretensions, with outline plans and descriptive notes of the materials and actual cost of each. The illustrations are chiefly in half-tone from negatives prepared by the author from the actual buildings. Books of this sort are so numerous that it is hard to recommend any one in particular; the designs here illustrated have been built, and, therefore, the estimates can be accepted without much question, though from the details and finish of some of them we should not like to guarantee their erection at the estimate named in other localities. Looking at random through the work, we notice that the author's penchant for angular bays and gables betrays him into some undesirable arrangements; they may be useful sometimes to obtain a good prospect, though rather costly in roofing, to say nothing of the awkward acute comers made as in design plates 4 and 19. The roofing of such examples as those on plates 72 and 73 and 77 is, to say the least, complex. Among the better and more simply treated houses we may mention those on Plates 7, 8, and 9. "We notice approvingly the use of cavity walls, faced with Ruabon red stocks in black mortar. The upper stories are treated in half-timbered work. On the whole, the plans would be improved if there were less breaks in the outer walls, except where absolutely necessary for effect. Mr. Goldsmith's chief aim is a worthy one—to show that reasonably priced houses may be built with artistic outlines and with good rooms full of sunlight and cheerfulness. Possibly many of the houses shown are good examples of these qualities, but the reproduction in other sites of the same designs often leads to disappointment. Still the author's work may be suggestive even to those whom he chiefly has in view, who are desirous of erecting their own residences—by no means a very wise class of person. The different styles of letterpress, the scrolls, flourishings, and tailpieces spoil the unity of the work, and are rather distracting. [Building News 31 January 1896 page 187]
Reference Manchester Guardian Monday 1 October 1899 Page 1 Column 5
Reference Building News 31 January 1896 page 187