Soane's main achievement at Hampton Court Palace was the regular condition surveys and conservation works carried out under his supervision. He also suggested improvements such as the repair of the ceiling over the stairs leading to the Great Hall. In the Great Hall itself Soane directed repairs to the screen (drawing [1]).

In addition to the two drawings catalogued here, there are several other significant drawings relating to Hampton Court in the Soane Museum's collections, not the least among which are those contained in the so-called Hampton Court Album (SM vol. 110) which represents the majority of the surviving drawings for Sir Christopher Wren's work as well as designs by Grinling Gibbons. The Hampton Court Album has been catalogued by Dr Gordon Higgott (see English Baroque Drawings: architecture, sculpture and garden design). Other drawings including plans by Charles Bridgeman (SM 36/3/1-6) have not yet been catalogued.

Literature:
J. M. Crook and M. H. Port, 'Hampton Court Palace' in idem (eds), The History of the King's Works , VI, 1973, pp. 332-33; S. Thurley, Hampton Court: A Social and Architectural History, 2003.

Tom Drysdale, February 2015

Scheme

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