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  • image Image 1 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 2 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 3 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 4 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 1 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 2 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 3 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso
  • image Image 4 for SM volume 42/181 recto and verso

Reference number

SM volume 42/181 recto and verso

Purpose

Draft memorandum to J.J. Hamilton regarding two fields adjoining Rock House, Bath; and accounts for work on an unidentified house

Inscribed

No. 1 It would be very desirable for Mr. Hamilton to / have the 4.0.20 now on ^ a term for two lives extended / without having any concern with the ^ two fields adjoining / unless they could be had free from all building / Covenants. // No. 2 Mr H. can I presume have but one notion / for having the two fields - i.e. to prevent any / erections prejudicial to his own Villa - & for No 1 // 3 [scribbled over] Q[uer]y Probability of the Gro[ound] / Mr H. now has on lease the above two fields for / Years - Q[uer]y will the rage for building / continue until that term is elapsed? // 4. Will not the present time be the worst to / take a lease of the two fields - as the building, (verso) [scribbled over] now erecting, if they answer which favour / circumstances (---- ----) will not material / now erecting may induce the owners of the / Land adjoining to imagine every part of the / Land equally valuable - the success of the / buildings now carrying is by no means certain / & if they are it was Builders cannot go beyond a / certain sum - there risks will be great & so / must the insurance also -- // Doubtless it would be extremely desirable / eligible for Mr. H. to have the two fields but / I think not if they must be encumbered with / building Covenants beyond what could be immediately / let out to Builders in any part most convenient / to Mr. H. - (new page) Suppose Mr. H. in possession of the two fields / the next step is to ^ make plans & then to find builders to take the / Ground so parcelled out - to find them will / depend not only on the success of what they / are now engaged in but on ^ a certain demand / for rather positive engagements for more Houses // Q[uer]y Number of Acres of in the whole of the / Pleasure Ground / Q[uer]y Ages of the two lives / Q[uer]y No. of Acres in the two fields. / [sum of] 6.1.0 / 2.2 / 8.3.0 (verso) List of costs related to: Rock House - 450 450 / Mr. Baldwins whole ac[coun]t. - 2881 / Mr. Harris Ironmonger - 339 / Mr. King Carver & Mason - 667 / Mr. Birchill Upholder - 661 / Densley Welldigger - 20 / Haskins Plaister figure - 8 / Mr. Wilton bust of Venus - 43 / Mr Tonkin 2 V.[iews] of Venice - 43 / Mr. Parker bal[anc]e for lustre & lamp - 76 / Van ----- Crimson --t---ing - 30 / Proper Water Closet Engineer - 96 // Coward, Linen for bed - 23 // Mr. Edwards painting Cieling - 179 / Mr. Murray Pier Glases - 162 / Hathwell frame maker - 48 / Bevan blind - 36 / Hopkins, Brazier - 98 / Woodhall bell hanger - 19 / Shaw linen draper - 21 / Gunning Glazier - 20 / Hathwell [frame maker] more - 21 and (left hand side) Green & Stone / Carpets 63.0.0 / Lamp - 3 - / door frame / worker - 9 / [total] £6015 - and (right hand side) 2881/339/667/20/96/179/19/20/--/ £4221/450 [total] 4670

Signed and dated

  • datable to September 1787

Medium and dimensions

Brown pen on laid paper with three fold marks and folded to fit (233 x 385)

Hand

Soane

Watermark

LVG

Notes

£6,015 in 1780 is approximately equivalent to £360,000 in 2003 (Bank of England equivalent contemporary values of the pound) to which would be added Soane's fee of 5%. Soane first worked for J.J. Hamilton in 1784 on extensive repairs and decoration to his town house in Park Street, London - probably No.48 (D. Stroud, op.cit.). The Soane office Note Book for 1784 records 'Mr Hamilton surveyd his House in Park Street' on 19 February, gives 'a long list of repairs & decorations' on 26 March and there are entries concerning Pembroke tables and carpets in June and July. The Note Books for 1785-7 are missing.

Literature

Survey of London, volume XL, 1980, p.142; D.Stroud, Sir John Soane architect, 2nd ed. 1996, p.242

Level

Drawing

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