Adam volumes 40/57 and 40/56 were incorrectly inscribed by William Adam [when the drawings were being arranged into their folios after Robert and James's respective deaths] as being for the parsonage house, when they are for the pheasant house of c1760. This was Adam's scheme to remodel an older building in the park for use as a small shooting lodge, with a first-floor balcony on each front of the building to provide shooting platforms.

From the elevations in Adam volumes 9/132, 9/129 and 40/56 it appears that Adam intended to include a central oculus in the shallow domed roof. This could not have illuminated the first floor as we can see from the plans in Adam volumes 9/132, 40/57 and 40/56 that there was to be a structural wall through the middle of it. This implies that the oculus was intended to illuminated the roof space, suggesting garret accomodation.

Harris notes that when Adam was returning from his Grand Tour he came via Germany, and is known to have visited Augsburg. There are certain similarities between this design and the Amalienburg at the Nymphenburg Palace designed by Cuvillés on the edge of nearby Munich, and it is possible that this was the inspiration for the pheasant house design for Kedleston.

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