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[129] Record drawing, 15 July 1818
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Reference number
SM 67/1/7
Purpose
[129] Record drawing, 15 July 1818
Aspect
Plan of the New Stables (built 1814 to 1818), Chelsea Hospital
Scale
bar scale
Inscribed
as above, labelled Stable Yard, The Governor's Stable, The Lieut[enant] Governor's Stable., Entrance, Paradise Row and some dimensions given
Signed and dated
- 15th July 1818
Hand
Soane office
Notes
This plan (on which North is to the right, South to the left, West at the top of the sheet and East at the bottom) shows a simple structure around a courtyard, closed on four sides unlike the earlier building which only occupied three sides. One main entrance for horses and coaches is shown and one for pedestrians, opposite.
The drawing shows the stables to include at least 26 stalls and nine coach-houses. Coach houses are all indicated by the large arched double doors - two on the south side, probably intended for the governor's coaches, as the stalls to either side are labelled 'The Governor's Stable'.
Some of the smaller rooms around the courtyard must have been stores for harness, saddles, oats and so on. The grooms' and other staff rooms must have been housed above.
The north-west corner room is probably a 'loose box' or 'observation box'. An exterior elevation (SM 67/1/10) shows a lunette window placed high (for light and ventilation) and the plan indicates an adjacent walled space open to the sky, with one entrance and two windows (for observation and further ventilation). Loose boxes in country house stables were only introduced c.1800 and as Giles Worsely indicates 'The loose box was especially favoured for sick horses and horses in foal, and for horses that took violent exercise in relatively short and concentrated periods, followed by periods of idleness, in particular racehorses and hunters'. Towards the south-west corner is a privy with, next to it, an enclosed area, 12 feet 3 inches by 10 feet, open to the sky.
The drawing shows the stables to include at least 26 stalls and nine coach-houses. Coach houses are all indicated by the large arched double doors - two on the south side, probably intended for the governor's coaches, as the stalls to either side are labelled 'The Governor's Stable'.
Some of the smaller rooms around the courtyard must have been stores for harness, saddles, oats and so on. The grooms' and other staff rooms must have been housed above.
The north-west corner room is probably a 'loose box' or 'observation box'. An exterior elevation (SM 67/1/10) shows a lunette window placed high (for light and ventilation) and the plan indicates an adjacent walled space open to the sky, with one entrance and two windows (for observation and further ventilation). Loose boxes in country house stables were only introduced c.1800 and as Giles Worsely indicates 'The loose box was especially favoured for sick horses and horses in foal, and for horses that took violent exercise in relatively short and concentrated periods, followed by periods of idleness, in particular racehorses and hunters'. Towards the south-west corner is a privy with, next to it, an enclosed area, 12 feet 3 inches by 10 feet, open to the sky.
Literature
G. Worsley, The British Stable, 2004, pp. 185-8
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