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Sir John Soane's collection includes some 30,000 architectural, design and topographical drawings which is a very important resource for scholars worldwide. His was the first architect’s collection to attempt to preserve the best in design for the architectural profession in the future, and it did so by assembling as exemplars surviving drawings by great Renaissance masters and by the leading architects in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries and his near contemporaries such as Sir William Chambers, Robert Adam and George Dance the Younger. These drawings sit side by side with 9,000 drawings in Soane’s own hand or those of the pupils in his office, covering his early work as a student, his time in Italy and the drawings produced in the course of his architectural practice from 1780 until the 1830s.
Browse (via the vertical menu to the left) and search results for Drawings include a mixture of Concise catalogue records – drawn from an outline list of the collection – and fuller records where drawings have been catalogued in more detail (an ongoing process).
Contents of Country houses
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland: designs for interior decoration and buildings in the park for the 1st Duke of Northumberland, 1769-83 (36)
- Ancaster House, Queen’s Road, Richmond: designs for the house for the 3rd Duke of Ancaster, 1773, executed with alterations (8)
- Ardkinglas House, Cairndow, Argyll: unexecuted designs to rebuild the house for Sir James Campbell (formerly Livingstone), 1773 (5)
- Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex: designs for the house and park for Sir John Griffin Griffin Bt (later 4th Lord Howard de Walden), 1763-85 (18)
- Ayton House, Berwickshire, designs for a cottage, for John Fordyce, 1791, unexecuted (3)
- Balhazy or sometimes known as Barholm House, Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway: designs for a house for John McCulloch, executed to a variant of these designs, c.1787-88 [8]
- Banner Castle, Yorkshire, for Lord John Murray, designs for a castle and entrance lodge, c1782, unexecuted (7)
- Barnbougle Castle, Dalmeny, West Lothian: unexecuted designs for enlarging the house for Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl of Rosebery, 1774 (12)
- Beckenham Rectory, Beckenham, Kent, designs for a house for the Reverend William Rose, c1788, executed (24)
- Belretiro, (now Auchendennan House) Arden, Argyll and Bute: unexecuted designs for a garden seat for William Rouet, 1770 (3)
- Bicton House, East Budleigh, Devon: unexecuted designs for a house and a gatehouse for John Rolle Walter, 1772 (7)
- Bishopthorpe Palace, North Yorkshire: unexecuted designs for an urn and a table for Archbishop Robert Hay-Drummond, 1768 (2)
- Blackadder House, Allanton, Berwickshire for Alexander Boswell c1784 (10)
- Blunham House, Blunham, Bedfordshire: survey drawings and interior decorative designs for Colonel John Campbell, 1768-69 (9)
- Bowood, Calne, Wiltshire: designs for the house, offices and park buildings, for William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, 1761-71 (32)
- Brampton Bryan, Knighton, Herefordshire: unexecuted designs for an entrance gate, stables and a ruin for the 4th Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, 1777 (3)
- Brasted Place, Kent, a house and interiors for Doctor John Turton, c1784-88 (44)
- Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire: unexecuted alternative designs for rebuilding, and enlarging the house for Archbishop Robert Hay-Drummond, c1761-65 (8)
- Bromsberrow Place, Gloucestershire: unexecuted designs for the house and stables for Mr Yate, 1761 (2)
- Buchanan House, Drymen, Stirling: unexecuted designs for a house for the 2nd Duke of Montrose, c1764(?) (5)
- Burghley House, Lincolnshire: designs for the interior of the house, partly executed, and unexecuted designs for a boathouse and gateway for the 9th Earl of Exeter, 1765-79 (16)
- Burton Constable, East Riding of Yorkshire: unexecuted design for a ceiling, for William Constable, 1766 (1)
- Byram Hall, Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire: designs for the interior of the house for Sir John Ramsden, 4th Baronet, c.1780 (17)
- Caldwell House, Beith, East Renfrewshire: executed and unexecuted designs for rebuilding the house for Baron William Mure, 1771-73 (18)
- Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire: survey plans and unexecuted designs for the great hall, and a stable court for the 7th Earl of Northampton, 1759 (9)
- Castle House, Cox's Hill, Calne, Wiltshire: executed designs for a new south wing, and possibly executed designs for the interior, including the hall, dining room and drawing room for David Bull, 1770-1771 (8)
- Cavens, Kirkbean, Dumfries and Galloway: unexecuted designs for a house and greenhouse, for Richard Oswald, 1773 (6)
- Charlton, Kent, designs for a house for John Jones Esq, c1762, unexecuted (5)
- Chillington Park, Brewood, Staffordshire: unexecuted designs for a house and a table for Thomas Giffard, 1772 (6)
- Claremont Park, (Milburn house), Esher, Surrey, part executed plans, elevations and a section for the house, and elevations for a temple and a bridge (unexecuted), for John Hussey Delaval, 1st Baron Delaval, c1786 (11)
- Cobham (possibly The Mount), Surrey, variant designs for a house and additions for William Saltonstall, 1782-3, unexecuted (9)
- Combe Bank, Sevenoaks, Kent: unexecuted designs for alterations to the house, executed designs for the interior, and an unexecuted design for a bridge for Lord Frederick Campbell, 1767-77, (8)
- Compton Verney, Warwickshire: executed designs for alterations and interior decoration to the house, and an unexecuted design for the brewhouse, for the 14th Lord Willoughby de Broke, 1760-63 (10)
- Congleton or Congalton, East Lothian: Designs for a house and stables for William Grant, Esquire, 1790, unexecuted (6)
- Copped Hall, Epping, Essex: design for a drawing room ceiling for John Conyers, 1763 (1)
- Corsham Court, Chippenham, Wiltshire: designs for frames and tables, for Paul Methuen, 1767-72 (5)
- Dalkeith House, Midlothian: executed designs for a bridge and porter’s lodge with gates, and an unexecuted design for a sundial, for Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, c.1791-94 (8)
- Dunbar House, also known as Lauderdale House, East Lothian: Designs for additions to a house for James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale, 1790-92, executed in part (12)
- Eastwell Park, Boughton Leeds, Kent: unexecuted alternative schemes for rebuilding the house for George Finch Hatton, 1774 (14)
- Eaton Hall, Cheshire, unexecuted designs for a menagerie and banqueting house, and for alterations and additions to the house for Baron Grosvenor (later 1st Earl Grosvenor), c1766-68 (19)
- The Elms, Epsom, Surrey: designs for alterations to the house, and for the interior, and unexecuted designs for estate buildings, for Anthony Chamier, 1774-76 (15)
- Eyton House, Ayton, Berwickshire (?): unexecuted designs for a house for John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, c1762-80 (12)
- Fennells Place, Ewell, Surrey: unexecuted designs for a house, interior works, and rustic offices, for Anthony Chamier, 1765-74 (14)
- Floors Castle, Kelso, Scottish Borders: unexecuted designs for the house and a gateway and cottage for the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1772-77 (23)
- Fonthill Splendens, Tisbury, Wiltshire: unexecuted designs for the house, interior decoration, and a bridge for Alderman William Beckford, date range: 1758-70 (9)
- Goodwood, West Sussex: unexecuted designs for a new house and a chimneypiece for the drawing room for the 3rd Duke of Richmond, 1763-65 (5)
- The Grange, Hampshire: unexecuted designs for domestic offices and a bridge for the 1st Lord Henley, 1764 (5)
- The Great House, Low Leyton, Essex: designs for remodelling the principal rooms, for Thomas Oliver, c1767 (6)
- Great Saxham House, Suffolk: designs for alterations, rebuilding and decorating for Hutchinson Mure, 1775-9 (32)
- The Grove, Muswell Hill, Greater London: unexecuted designs for a curtain wall around an observatory, and interior decoration for a dressing room, for the Hon. Topham Beauclerk, 1770 (6)
- Gunton Park, Suffield, Norfolk: executed designs for St Andrew's Church, and unexecuted designs for the house for Sir William and Sir Harbord Harbord, 1767-72 (10)
- Hackwood Park, Hampshire: unexecuted designs for a cottage and a lodge for the 6th Duke of Bolton, 1777 (5)
- Halsewell Park, Bridgwater, Somerset: executed design for the interior decoration of the Temple of Harmony for Sir Charles Kemys Tynte, 5th Baronet, 1767 (3)
- Ham (later Dorchester) House, Weybridge, Surrey, unexecuted designs for a garden temple for the 2nd Earl of Portmore, c1760-61 (6)
- Hampton House (later Garrick’s villa), Hampton Court Road, Richmond: designs for alterations to the house and garden buildings for David Garrick, 1774-77 (7)
- Harewood House, Yorkshire: designs for alterations to the church and house; for the interior decoration; and for a greenhouse and gateway for Edwin Lascelles, 1759-1782 (121)
- Harwich House, designs for a house for John Robinson, 1778, unexecuted (11)
- Hatch House (now Mersham-le-Hatch), Mersham, Kent: executed and unexecuted designs for the house and interior for Sir Wyndham Knatchbull-Wyndham, 6th Baronet, and Sir Edward Knatchbull, 7th Baronet, 1762-66 (34)
- Hatchlands, Surrey: executed designs for interior decoration for the Rt Hon. Admiral Edward Boscawen, 1758-59 (15)
- Headfort House, County Meath: designs for interior decoration for Thomas Taylor, 1st Earl of Bective, 1771-75 (18)
- Hendon Hall, Ashley Lane, Hendon, Barnet, (formerly) Middlesex: unexecuted design for a bridge for David Garrick, c1774-77 (1)
- Highdown House, Hertfordshire, designs for a new house for John Radcliffe, c1770, unexecuted (8)
- Hill House, Putney Heath, three schemes for Sir Samuel Hannay, 3rd Bt., c1786-7, unexecuted (25)
- Hitchin Priory, Hertfordshire, for John Radcliffe, designs for alterations to a house for John Radcliffe, c1772, unexecuted (5)
- Ickworth, Suffolk, finished drawings for a house for General the Hon. William Hervey, c1766, unexecuted (4)
- Ingress Abbey, Dartford, Kent: unexecuted designs for remodelling the house, for John Calcraft, 1765 (4)
- Jerviston or Jeriston House, West Lothian: Designs for a house for James Cannison, 1782, executed to a variant design (8)
- Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire: designs for landscape architecture, alterations to the house, and interior design for Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 5th Baronet (created Lord Scarsdale 1761), 1759-72 (149)
- Kenwood, Hampstead, London: designs for the house and park for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, 1764-83 (55)
- Killerton Park, Budlake, Devon: unexecuted designs for a house, for Sir Thomas Acland Dyke, 7th Baronet, 1768 (7)
- Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: designs for the house and park for George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, 1763-71 (22)
- King's Inch, near Glasgow: unexecuted designs for a house for Alexander Speirs, 1776 (8)
- Kings Cramond, Midlothian: designs for a house for George Ramsay c.1792, executed to a variant design (3)
- Kingsgate (or Old Holland House), Broadstairs, Kent: unexecuted design for a ceiling, for Henry Fox, 1st Lord Holland, 1767 (1)
- Kippington, Sevenoaks, Kent: designs for chimneypieces and tables for Sir Charles Farnaby, 1764-65 (7)
- Knockear or Knockour Castle, Stirling: Designs for a castle-style building for John Buchanan of Ardoch, 1793, unexecuted (7)
- Knowsley Park, Lancashire: unexecuted designs for a lodge, and alterations and additions to the house, and executed designs for a dairy, for the 12th Earl of Derby, 1776-77 (9)
- La Trappe (later Brandenburg House), Hammersmith, Middlesex: designs for a garden pavilion, possibly executed, and a dressing room chimneypiece for George Bubb Dodington, Lord Melcombe, 1762 (9)
- Littlecote, Ramsbury, Wiltshire: unexecuted design for a garden pavilion for General Edward Popham, 1768 (1)
- Longleat House, Wiltshire: unexecuted designs for a new wing and an interior decorative scheme for the gallery for Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth (later 1st Marquess of Bath), 1775 (6)
- Lowther Hall and village, Penrith, Cumberland: designs for a model village, and unexecuted designs for rebuilding Lowther Hall, a dairy, banqueting house, gateway and stables for Sir James Lowther, 5th Baronet, 1766-71 and 1785 (41)
- Luton Park, designs for a house and interiors including an organ case for John Crichton Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, c1763-72 (56)
- Mamhead, Ashcombe, Devon: designs for interior decoration, alterations to the house, a garden seat, a temple and stable offices for the 1st Earl of Lisburne, 1767-80 (32)
- Mellerstain, Earlston, Scottish Borders: designs for the house, interiors, and an unexecuted memorial tower for the Hon. George Baillie, c1768-78 (19)
- Mistley Hall and Village, Essex, for the Rt. Hon. Richard Rigby, c1774-82 (34)
- Mitcham Grove, Surrey: unexecuted designs for buildings in the park, domestic offices, and a mirror frame for John Stewart, and unexecuted designs for alterations to the house for Alexander Wedderburn, c1770-74 (11)
- Montagu villa, (later Buccleuch House) Nightingale Lane, Richmond: unexecuted designs for a garden seat for the Duke of Montagu, 1772 (2)
- Moor Park, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire: designs for the house and park, for Sir Lawrence Dundas, 1763-66 (28)
- Moy House, Dyke and Moy, Moray: unexecuted designs for alterations to the house for Ludovic Grant (later Sir Ludovic Grant, 6th Baronet), 1759 (6)
- Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire: designs for the house and interior for William Weddell, 1766-84 (52)
- Ninewells, Berwickshire, designs for a house for Joseph Home, c1790, unexecuted (5)
- Norbury Booths Hall (later Booths Hall), Knutsford, Cheshire: unexecuted design for a chimneypiece for Peter Legh, 1764 (1)
- Nostell Priory, Wakefield, West Yorkshire: designs for interior decoration, alterations to the house, and buildings in the park for Sir Rowland Winn, 5th Baronet, 1765-85 (39)
- Nuneham Courtney, Oxfordshire: unexecuted designs for altering the house for the 2nd Earl Harcourt, 1777 (7)
- The Oaks, Carshalton, Surrey: designs for alterations to the house for the 12th Earl of Derby, c1777 (24)
- Osterley Park, Hounslow, Greater London: designs for the house, interior and park for Francis Child and Robert Child, 1761-80 (126)
- Painshill, Cobham, Surrey: design for a ceiling and pedestal for the Temple of Bacchus for the Hon. Charles Hamilton, 1761 (5)
- Panmure, Muirdrum, Angus: unexecuted designs for the house and stables for William Maule, 1st Earl of Panmure, c1764 (5)
- Patshull Hall, Boningale, Staffordshire: design for a pedestal, for Sir John Astley, 1765 (2)
- Petersham Lodge, Richmond: unexecuted designs for the house, greenhouse, and domestic offices for Lord Frederick Campbell, N.D. (9)
- Philiphaugh, Selkirk: unexecuted designs for a house and a greenhouse for John Murray, 1768 (5)
- Polton, Lasswade, Midlothian: designs for the enlargement of the house for Mrs Anne Calderwood Durham, 1788 (1)
- Putney Common, designs for a house for James Macpherson, c1785, unexecuted (6)
- Ray House or Ray Lodge, Woodford, Redbridge, designs for a conservatory, farm and stable offices, and for alterations to a house for Sir James Wright, Bt., c1773-1782 (17)
- Raynham Hall, Norfolk, designs for alterations to a house and for a bridge for George, 4th Viscount and 1st MarquessTownshend, c1782, unexecuted (5)
- Rudding Hall, Harrogate, Yorkshire, survey drawing and designs for additions to the house for Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn, unexecuted (4)
- Ruscombe House, Berkshire, designs for alterations to a house and for offices for Sir James Eyre, 1789, possibly executed (12)
- Saint Hill House, Sussex, for Gibbs Crawfurd, variant designs for a house, 1785, unexecuted (13)
- Saltram Park, Devon: designs for the house and estate, for John Parker, 1768-82 (31)
- Schaw Park, Sauchie, Clackmannanshire: unexecuted designs for a house, mausoleum and carriage panels for Charles Schaw Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart, 1775-76 (16)
- Scratby House, Norfolk, designs for alterations to the house for John Ramey Esq, c1777, unexecuted (7)
- Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire: designs for exterior alterations, interior decoration, domestic offices, a gateway, and a banqueting house for William Drake, 1759-63 (43)
- Sherborne Castle, Dorset: unexecuted designs for alterations to the house, interior, a new gateway and bridge for 7th Lord Digby, 1760-67 (16)
- Shrewsbury Castle, Shropshire: unexecuted designs for interior decoration for Sir William Pulteney, c1768-87 (3)
- St Edmund's Hill (later The Mount, and now Moreton Hall), Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: executed designs for a villa for Professor John Symonds, 1773-76, (9)
- St John's Lodge, Welwyn, Hertfordshire: designs for a villa, executed to a modified and enlarged design, and a mirror frame for Mrs Mary St John, 1775-78 (8)
- Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, unexecuted designs for a bridge and farm building for the 4th Earl of Harborough, 1773 (4)
- Stockwood House, Luton, Bedfordshire: unexecuted designs for a house for John Crawley, 1772 (3)
- Stourfield House, Hampshire, design for the south front of the house for Edmund Bott Esq., 1780, unexecuted (1)
- Stowe, Buckinghamshire: design for the south front of the house for the 2nd Earl Temple, executed with alterations, 1771 (1)
- Stratton Park, Bedfordshire, designs for the drawing room for Charles Barnett, 1783, possibly executed (3)
- Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, Middlesex: designs for the round drawing room and a rustic cottage for Horace Walpole, 1766-68 (9)
- Summerhill House, Co. Meath: unexecuted design for an extension to the house for the Rt Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley, 1765 (1)
- Surrenden Dering, Pluckley, Kent: unexecuted design for a greenhouse for Sir Edward Dering, Bt, c1762-92 (3)
- Syon House, Brentford, Greater London: designs for the interior and the park for the 1st Duke of Northumberland, 1761-69 (69)
- Teddington, Middlesex, designs for a house and stables for Robert Udney, possibly executed, c1789 (5)
- Temple Newsam, Yorkshire, designs for additions to the house for Charles Ingram, 9th Viscount Irwin, c1763-78, unexecuted (3)
- Thistleworth (now Gordon) House, Isleworth, Middlesex: executed designs for an extension; a greenhouse; and two variant unexecuted designs for a temple for Lieutenant General Humphrey Bland, 1758-63 (12)
- Thorpe Perrow, Firby, North Yorkshire: unexecuted designs for ceilings, for Sir Ralph Milbanke, 5th Baronet, 1766 (2)
- Tusmore, Baynard's Green, Oxfordshire: executed designs for ceilings for William Fermor, 1770 (5)
- Ugbrooke, Chudleigh, Devon: unexecuted designs for the interior of the house for the 4th Baron Clifford, 1763-71 (22)
- Upton House, Warwickshire: unexecuted designs for the drawing room for Robert Child, 1772 (3)
- Weald Hall, Brentwood, South Weald, Essex: designs for alterations to the house, a cottage, dog kennels, and interior decoration for Thomas and Christopher Tower, 1778-1779 (21)
- West Wycombe Park, Buckinghamshire: design for the west portico for Sir Francis Dashwood (later 11th Baron Le Despencer), unexecuted, c1761-62, (1)
- Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire: unexecuted design for the tapestry room ceiling for Sir Henry Bridgeman, Bt, 1775 (1)
- Whitehaven Castle, Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland: designs for alterations to the house for Sir James Lowther, 5th Baronet (later 1st Earl of Lonsdale), 1766-c1770 (12)
- Witham Park, Frome, Somerset: designs for the house for Alderman William Beckford, partly executed with alterations, 1762-70 (10)
- Wonersh Park, near Guildford, Surrey: unexecuted designs for interior decoration, and for stables and farm offices, for Sir Fletcher Norton (later Baron Grantley of Markenfield), 1767 (9)
- Woodburn House, Midlothian: designs for a house for James Kerr Esquire, 1792, executed status unknown (7)
- Woolton Hall, Liverpool, finished drawing for a house for Nicholas Ashton, c1775, executed with minor alterations (1)
- Wormleybury, Hertfordshire, executed designs for interiors and furniture, and designs for garden buildings, for Sir Abraham Hume, 1777-80 (24)
- Wyke House, Syon Hill, Isleworth, designs for a house for John Robinson, unexecuted (23)
- Wynnstay House, Ruabon, Denbighshire: unexecuted designs for the house, unexecuted designs for a monument to David Garrick for the park, and an executed design for a font for St Mary's Church, Ruabon, for Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet, 1770-79 (13)
- Wyreside Hall, Nether Wyresdale, Dolphinholme, Lancashire: alternative designs for alterations to the house for John Fenton Cawthorne, 1786-92 (6)
- Yester House, East Lothian: designs for alterations to a house for the 4th and 7th Marquesses of Tweeddale, c.1760-89, executed in part (8)