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[1] Site survey
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Reference number
SM 40/4/15
Purpose
[1] Site survey
Aspect
Plan of Premises in / Fountain Court / Aldermanbury
Scale
bar scale of 1/6 inch to 1 foot
Inscribed
as above, [W.] A. Jackson Esqre, labelled: Mr Newcomb, Mr Reynolds, Lights, Area or Yard, Party fence Wall, Gateway, Fountain / Court, Back line of Mr Newcomes (sic) house, One Story & / Cellar, 2 Stories / and Cellar, Condemned, Certificate given to Mr Soane May 16, Daniel Haig and Co, Condemned, Wells, Condemned, Wells, Wells, Wells, Condemned, Certificate left at ye Bank / May 28 1804, Simpson, Condemned, Condemned, Church Passage, Passage, Mr Brooks / Certificate given to Mr Soane May 16 / to remain, Passage, Mr Bond, Baptist Head Coffee House and dimensions given
Signed and dated
- 23 January 1802
Lincolns Inn / Fields / Jany 23 1802
Medium and dimensions
Pen and light red wash, pricked for transfer on laid paper with four fold marks (465 x 477)
Hand
William Edward Rolfe
Pupil November 1801 - 1804.
Pupil November 1801 - 1804.
Watermark
J Larking and fleur-de-lis above cartouche with bar and below, GR
Notes
The drawing has at some point been trimmed down since the inscriptions at the bottom left, bottom right and top of the sheet are clipped. There are at least two hands present in the drawing. The brown pen inscripitions appear to have been added later, as they contain dates ('May 16', 'May 28 1804') and information on the surrounding buildings, whereas the other inscriptions label the different parts of the plan. The 'title' in the bottom left corner is a later addition still. The condition of the drawing, with its many fold marks, suggest that it was made on or taken to the site.
The complex plan of the irregular site in the City of London is revealed by this drawing. Many of the surrounding buildings are labelled as 'condemned'. There are seven entrances to the building from Fountain Court and one from Church Passage. Internally the division of the rooms is irregular.
The Baptist Head Coffee House (not to be confused with the Baptist Head Coffee House on Chancery Lane) was owned by a Mr James Bond. One contemporary account describes it as 'much frequented by gentlemen of the law, &c. Commissioners of Bankrupts sits here. Good dinners, wines, and beds' (J. Feltham, The Picture of London for 1804..., 1804, p. 351).
The complex plan of the irregular site in the City of London is revealed by this drawing. Many of the surrounding buildings are labelled as 'condemned'. There are seven entrances to the building from Fountain Court and one from Church Passage. Internally the division of the rooms is irregular.
The Baptist Head Coffee House (not to be confused with the Baptist Head Coffee House on Chancery Lane) was owned by a Mr James Bond. One contemporary account describes it as 'much frequented by gentlemen of the law, &c. Commissioners of Bankrupts sits here. Good dinners, wines, and beds' (J. Feltham, The Picture of London for 1804..., 1804, p. 351).
Level
Drawing
Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk