NICHOLS, John Gough (1806-1873). Printer and antiquary.
Autograph Letter Signed to the Dean of Hereford, 4 pages 8vo, 15 Parliament Street, 31 July 1841. Minuted at the head in pencil 'I did not like to send this'. Expressing alarm that [Lewis Nockalls] Cottingham (1787-1847) might be involved with work on Hereford Cathedral, and detailing his unfortunate involvement at Rochester and at the Temple Church.

'... I have made this observation after hearing of several works in which [Cottingham] has been employed, that he had had either the good or ill luck to meet with more old churches nodding to their fall than any other gentleman I have heard of. When I was a Rochester last year I heard that he had at first alarmed the Dean as to the state of the whole roof of the Choir: but, when the expense was an important consideration, it was examined by another person, & repaired at a comparatively trifling sum, of course in a much less laborious way. I was further told that this had left a very unfavourable impression upon the Dean & Chapter of Rochester. ...
 'Since then, we have heard a great deal of the ruinous condition of the Temple church where Mr C. was called in to second his friend Mr Savage. ...'

This aspect of Cottingham's professional character is not in evidence in Oxford DNB, where is work on Rochester Cathedral (1825-1840) and Hereford Cathedral (1841-47) is mentioned without comment.
[No: 24337]