¼ in to 1 ft

• 1813-14

Pen, sepia, raw umber, burnt umber, blue, pink, yellow and green earth washes, shaded, within single ruled and wash border (top and bottom) on wove paper, two sheets joined (485 x 1190)

Dance

This is related to Design F ([SM D2/1/6]) in the number and disposition of turrets, though the terminations are a more fanciful version of that earlier scheme. A more significant change is that the porte-cochere is now flanked by columns on pedestals, its lintel crowned with a Vitruvian or Grecian scroll (or Indian crenellation) over a square diaper frieze and the buttresses are now two-tiered The crocketed Indian crenellation of Design F now forms a parapet across the whole of the front (see [SM D2/5/40] verso for a rough detail), above an arched frieze with a tighter rhythm than the arched corbel-table frieze of subsequent designs. Second floor windows are pedimented, first floor windows have sloping hoods and trellised metalwork balconies (on the pavilion ends).

The drawing is very finished with horses and carriages at the front door but the left-hand side is cut off and presumably the design having been rejected by the architect himself - or the client - the sheet was re-used for another later design on the verso.

Verso
Design 'as executed'
Plan of E wall and elevation of E (principal) front
Scale: ¼ in to 1 ft
Inscribed: dimensions given
Black and brown pen, sepia and light red washes, shaded
This appears to be the executed design (reproduced as such in Stroud) though the simple engraved view of 1813 (published in C. Hussey, 'Ashburnham Place, Sussex', Country Life, CXIII, 1953, p.1337) does not, for instance, show balconies nor much of the detail.

In this 'as executed' design, the raised parapet has the pierced quatrefoils of [SM D2/1/14] that now correspond to the fronts of the first floor balconies (as shown also on [SM D2/1/14]). These fronts, supported on brackets, are for the three windows at each end and erasures and amendments have made them separate (as on [SM D2/1/17] verso) and not continuous. The porte-cochere has a diaper frieze (with rosettes rather than the quatrefoils of [SM D2/1/16]). The terminations to all of the turrets have been simplified and resemble inverted cupped patera (which Dance later labels 'bell', a form found in Indian architecture) with a finial consisting of an urn with fruit. The Ashburnham coat of arms is placed in the centre of the raised parapet (as in Designs F and H). The Indian elements of turrets with cap-domes, chujjah-like labels to the windows, jali-like pierced balcony fronts, arched frieze or machicolation, diaper frieze and the Mughal proportions of the entrance arch make this front one of the key examples of Dance's Indian-influenced works.

For Dance's use of Indian architectural elements see the note on the Guildhall, London.

REPRODUCED. Stroud fig.72a.

Drawing

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