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Site plans with variant designs for the new Infirmary, facing the Thames, April 1809 (3)
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Reference number
SM (6) volume 78/30 (7) volume 77/24 (8) volume 78/31 (9) volume 77/25
Purpose
Site plans with variant designs for the new Infirmary, facing the Thames, April 1809 (3)
Aspect
6 Plan of Chelsea Hospital with a Design for the New Infirmary
7 Copy, Plan of Chelsea Hospital with a Design for the New Infirmary
8-9 Block plan of the west side of Chelsea Hospital with a block plan for an Infirmary of three long buildings surrounding a court on three sides
Scale
(6-9) bar scale
Inscribed
6-7 as above, labelled Copy, AA, BB, CC, D, E, NB. The present Hospital Garden is too small. this plan / gives a very considerable addition thereto. / This Plan places the Hospital on the high Ground. / --- gives the airing Ground open to the River. / --- gives an arcade to the South of considerable / extent for Exercise in bad weather & / --- gives an easy communication to all the different / parts of the hospital. / --- removes the nuisance of drying Grounds, and / places them behind out of sight. / --- lets off as much land as it is presumed would produce a Ground Rent / of at least twice the Sum to be paid by Col[one]l: Gordon without the least / detriment to any part of the Hospital., A.A. This part of the premises lately / belonging to Lord Yarborough may / be let -- / B.B. The present Drying Ground which / is a great nuisance and is therefore / proposed to be removed to C.C. - / nB. One of the great objections to the / situation of the Present Infirmary / is the necessity of having the Great / West Court of the Hospital used / as a cleansing Court. / D. The part of the Old Building pulled / down (See Report. april 13) / E new Stables & Coach house for / Lieu[tenan]t. Governor., River Thames, Addition to the / Hospital Garden, Creek, walk from the Terrace to the Hospital etc, Part of the Hospital Garden, Low fence Wall & Iron Railing, Airing Ground, Cleansing Court, F- - - - / ward / for / Six, Matron, Surgery, apot[hecary], Infirm[ar]y:, arcade to the South for Exercise in bad weath[er], Infirmary, Infir[mary], Way from the River to Paradise Row - common to the Hospital and to the proposed New Houses, whit / ster, Hospital / wash-house, Surgeons / House, Bakehouse, College Place, Coal / Yard, Stable / Yard, Paradise Row, Road to the / Kings Road, Carriage Way, Board Room, The Great / West Court, Old / Infirmary and Canal
8-9 as above, labelled NB. This drawing is a copy of the design / made by me the beginning of Feby immediately / after receiving as Imagined the directions / of the Board from D. Dundas to prepare / a Plan for converting part of the Premises / lately occupied by Lord Yarborough into / an Infirmary, A. Physician / Surgery / apothecary / & / Matron / Whitster to be removed to B / C. This wall shews the line I asked for / on the 12th: of March last which was / refused:- had it been acceded, I should / then have proposed to the Board of / Commissioners to build a new Infirmary D / E. nB. This low building is not included / in the grant to Col[one]': Gordon altho' it / made a part of the Premises, lately / occupied by Lord Yarborough, River Thames, sum[mer] / house, Pleasure Ground, Creek, Public or Hospital Garden, Canal, House, office court, wall six feet high, Cowie Gard[ener] / to Sir D Dundas, Old / Infirm[ar]y:, arcade, Infirmary Court, Cleans[in]g: Ground, Drying Ground (twice), Carriage Way, Great West / quadrangle of / Hospital, Public / Washouse, Surgeons / House, Bakehouse, airing Ground, Late L[or]d: Yarboro[ugh], Coal / Yard, Stable / Yard, Board / Room, Part of Burtons Court, Road to / the Kings / Road, Paradise Row and Road from Paradise Row to Col[one]l: Gordons Premises
Signed and dated
(6-9) John Soane, architect / April. 1809 (see Notes)
Hand
Soane office and Soane
Notes
Soane submitted a report to the Board on 12 April describing the problems associated with converting Yarborough House as it existed into a new Infirmary. Originals of the plans Soane included had been made earlier that year, around February (as per drawings 8 and 9 inscription). The plan shown in drawings 6 and 7, labelled 'Plan B' Soane described as follows: 'with all its appurtenances, entirely detached, and of course less exposed to fire'. Plan 'B' included an arcade for exercise during bad weather, an airing ground in front and the river separated only by an iron railing.
Drawings 8 and 9, labelled 'Plan C', show a compromise plan 'on the supposition that all the ground cannot be had'. This shows detached wings on three sides, set far enough back to allow for Colonel Gordon's proposed villa.
Drawings 8 and 9, labelled 'Plan C', show a compromise plan 'on the supposition that all the ground cannot be had'. This shows detached wings on three sides, set far enough back to allow for Colonel Gordon's proposed villa.
Literature
Papers, presented to the House of Commons, relating to the Building of a New Infirmary, and the Leasing of Ground at Chelsea Hospital (ordered by the House of Commons) to be Printed, 20th April 1809
Level
Drawing
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