Comparison with the ground floor of scheme A shows that (drawing 4) a portico has been added to the south (entrance) front, the vestibule has been reduced so as to make room for the addition of a dressing room and muniment room to the library which has lost its bow front and the eating room and withdrawing room have been re-configured so that the north and south walls are straight and the east and west walls are bowed.

The first floor plan (drawing 5) shows the outline of that part of the original Tudor house that was to be kept together with later but existing rooms to the north-west. Together these were to provide five bedrooms. The three new reception rooms of the ground floor are shown to be single storey with each having a pyramidal roof. The attic floor (drawing 6) has four bedrooms all within the structure of the original house except for a new wall with window added to the east side.

The entrance elevation (together with the the plans) is interesting in the way it shows the re-facing that Soane proposed for its three storeys. The ground floor is Soane's own: symmetrical either side of the portico though the right-hand windows are blind. The seven windows of the first and of the attic floors are carefully balanced by two blind windows on the right-hand side. A thicket of trees partly conceals the unwanted old west wing that Soane wishes to demolish. Soane contrives with the addition of new windows, a pediment, a cornice, a well placed chimney stack and a new skin of masonry to create a dignified mansion for his client.

The end elevation of scheme B (drawing 8) is very close to that of scheme A (drawing 3) though now the pyramid roofs to the new ground floor rooms are shown.

Group

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