Explore Collections
You are here:
CollectionsOnline
/
[5] Site plan with proposals for the conversion of Yarborough House into an Infirmary, April 1809
Browse
Drawing. SM 67/5/17. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Hugh Kelly
Reference number
SM 67/5/17
Purpose
[5] Site plan with proposals for the conversion of Yarborough House into an Infirmary, April 1809
Aspect
Block plan with a Design for converting part of / the premises lately in the / occupation of Lord Yarborough / into an Infirmary and View of the Building / with the proposed / additions & alterations
Inscribed
as above, labelled Common Entrance from Paradise Row / to the Infirmary & to Col[one]l. Gordon, Cleansing Ground, Ward / for / 6 (five times), Ward / for / 4 (twice), Ward / for / 8, anti Room, Physician, apothecary, apothecary / shop, washouse, Stable Court, Paradise Row, Entrance, Part of Burtons Court, Part of the Hospital, Bran, Meal, Bakehouse, Entrance from the Hospital, Dead / House, Surgery etc, Surgeons House, Whitster and Plan submitted to the Board / Thursday april . 15: 1809
Signed and dated
- Chelsea Hospital, april 12: 1809
Hand
Soane office
Notes
Soane had many objections to the idea of converting Yarborough House into an Infirmary and met the Governor of Chelsea Hospital, Sir David Dundas, on 2 February 1809 to discuss the matter (recorded in Papers, presented to the House of Commons, relating to the Building of a New Infirmary, and the Leasing of Ground at Chelsea Hospital (ordered by the House of Commons to be Printed, 20th April 1809). He was told that there was no more land to be had - a result of part of Yarborough land having been leased to Colonel Gordon (so that he might build a villa).
On 3 February Soane went to survey Yarborough's house and recorded in the above mentioned papers that 'my Clerks began taking plans of the Ground and Buildings on the 4th of Feb. and continued until the whole was finished'. It seems likely that this drawing, SM 67/5/16 and SM 67/5/14 were part of this body of work as they mark out infirmary wards within the (then) existing structure of Yarborough House, experimenting with the possibility of conversion.
The inscription regarding the line given by Thomas Leverton (Colonel Gordon's architect) on SM 67/5/16 also records the debate he and Soane had on the limits of the Infirmary boundary, as Soane wished that the Infirmary should face the river for the best air and that the said boundary should not obstruct the symmetry of the pre-existing buildings.
On 3 February Soane went to survey Yarborough's house and recorded in the above mentioned papers that 'my Clerks began taking plans of the Ground and Buildings on the 4th of Feb. and continued until the whole was finished'. It seems likely that this drawing, SM 67/5/16 and SM 67/5/14 were part of this body of work as they mark out infirmary wards within the (then) existing structure of Yarborough House, experimenting with the possibility of conversion.
The inscription regarding the line given by Thomas Leverton (Colonel Gordon's architect) on SM 67/5/16 also records the debate he and Soane had on the limits of the Infirmary boundary, as Soane wished that the Infirmary should face the river for the best air and that the said boundary should not obstruct the symmetry of the pre-existing buildings.
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