Architectural Note:-
The evolution of the buildings on this site is discussed in the Architectural Note for the East Range under Courts & Offices Surveys. As was a common practice, the buildings were sold for their materials to off-set the cost of constructing the New Law Courts. The Auction, overseen by John Eversfield, was held on 3 September 1822, and was recorded in the Day Books. The printed catalogue survives (SM 5679), and the division into lots is recorded on some of the earlier survey drawings (e.g. SM 37/3/2). £677 15s 3d was raised by the auction, which Eversfield paid to the Office of Works on 24 September. Four days later, Adam Lee reported to Soane that the site had been cleared.

Drawings Note:-
It should be remembered that these survey drawings post-date the earliest designs for New Law Courts by almost two years (see New Law Courts - First Scheme). Singular amongst these drawings is that signed by J. Fone (SM 53/1/3). He appears not to have been a pupil of Soane, but rather a draughtsman associated with the Office of Works, who was able to supply Soane with site surveys, from which precise designs for the Chancery courts could be worked up. His hand demonstrates only a perfunctory ability by comparison to the Soane Office manner. The Day Book entries for October- November 1822 record that George Bailey, Arthur Mee and Charles Papendiek were the draughtsmen who worked on associated New Law Court drawings the most frequently. However, the specific entries for each day’s work are not descriptive enough to be associated with this series of drawings. They were intermittently assisted by John Hiort and David Moccatta, the latter working closely for a sustained period with Mee and Papendiek from late-October to mid-November on New Law Court drawings. No one hand is prevalent amongst the Soane Office drawings.

Sub-scheme

Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation. This catalogue of Soane’s designs for the New Law Courts was generously funded by The Worshipful Company of Mercers and The Pilgrim Trust.

If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk