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[12/1] Outline site plan and block plan, c.1729-35, of a proposal for additional accommodation ranges at the backs of the four main hospital blocks and to the south of the Romney Road, and for the realignment of the roads around the Greenwich Hospital site
Browse
Reference number
SM volume 109/7
Purpose
[12/1] Outline site plan and block plan, c.1729-35, of a proposal for additional accommodation ranges at the backs of the four main hospital blocks and to the south of the Romney Road, and for the realignment of the roads around the Greenwich Hospital site
Aspect
Block plan
Scale
100 feet to 1 1/6 in (see [11/1])
Inscribed
In ink with numbered scale bar; and at top right (of volume) in C19 hand, 7
Signed and dated
- Undated, but datable c.1729-35
Medium and dimensions
Pen and black ink over graphite under-drawing, with yellow, grey, blue-grey and pink washes. Laid paper, laid down; central fold, with small tear at bottom 519 x 728
Hand
Unidentified, possibly John James
Watermark
Strasbourg Lily/4WR/LVG; IHS/IVILLEDARY
Notes
This scheme post-dates Hawksmoor's proposal in 1728 for re-siting the Romney Road further south, in line with St Alfege's Greenwich, [11/2], and is the earliest to show boundary walls enclosing the site. These walls are incorporated in subsequent block plans, [12/5, 6 and 7].
The plan builds on some of the principles established in [11/2], in which the Queen's Garden was extended west to compensate for the loss of the north end of the garden to the Romney Road. Within this area is a long, U-shaped range, its west-facing court closed by a wall with a central gate. A narrower version of the 'Esplanade' on [11/2] now runs north-to-south along the western boundary of the Greenwich site. A matching accommodation block as provided on the east side of the Queen's House garden. The Queen's House itself is shown with long rectangular garden plots east and west of the building on both sides of the Deptford to Woolwich Road. These new garden plots are closed off at the outer corners of their east and west ends by square enclosures or pavilions.
The main hospital blocks are are shown with new back courtyards. Those on the east side, behind the Queen Anne and Queen Mary base blocks, are closed with walls rather than base blocks. Areas and buildings intended for clearance and demolition on both sides of the Hospital are marked with dashed lines and bands of grey shading. These correspond with the areas marked F and K on the block plan and site survey, [11/1]. A straight road is shown running across these areas on the east side.
The two areas marked in blue-grey wash bands against continuous outlines between the south-west corner of the Hospital and St Alfege's are designated for the infirmary. On plan [11/1] they are marked B, D and M. The grey-washed courtyard in an irregular rectangle is the Mews and Out Office building marked C on [11/2]. This now becomes a consistent element in the Greenwich layout.
The addition of base courts and boundary wall prompts the introduction of new entrance gate and axis aligned with the avenue between the King William Court and the King Charles II Building. Pairs of entrance steps would have provided access up to the colonnades on the north sides of the Great Hall and Chapel, as in several several designs for the Hall and colonnades between about 1698 to 1702 (e.g. [6/2 and 5]).
The plan builds on some of the principles established in [11/2], in which the Queen's Garden was extended west to compensate for the loss of the north end of the garden to the Romney Road. Within this area is a long, U-shaped range, its west-facing court closed by a wall with a central gate. A narrower version of the 'Esplanade' on [11/2] now runs north-to-south along the western boundary of the Greenwich site. A matching accommodation block as provided on the east side of the Queen's House garden. The Queen's House itself is shown with long rectangular garden plots east and west of the building on both sides of the Deptford to Woolwich Road. These new garden plots are closed off at the outer corners of their east and west ends by square enclosures or pavilions.
The main hospital blocks are are shown with new back courtyards. Those on the east side, behind the Queen Anne and Queen Mary base blocks, are closed with walls rather than base blocks. Areas and buildings intended for clearance and demolition on both sides of the Hospital are marked with dashed lines and bands of grey shading. These correspond with the areas marked F and K on the block plan and site survey, [11/1]. A straight road is shown running across these areas on the east side.
The two areas marked in blue-grey wash bands against continuous outlines between the south-west corner of the Hospital and St Alfege's are designated for the infirmary. On plan [11/1] they are marked B, D and M. The grey-washed courtyard in an irregular rectangle is the Mews and Out Office building marked C on [11/2]. This now becomes a consistent element in the Greenwich layout.
The addition of base courts and boundary wall prompts the introduction of new entrance gate and axis aligned with the avenue between the King William Court and the King Charles II Building. Pairs of entrance steps would have provided access up to the colonnades on the north sides of the Great Hall and Chapel, as in several several designs for the Hall and colonnades between about 1698 to 1702 (e.g. [6/2 and 5]).
Literature
Not in Wren Society
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