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Variant preliminary designs each ornamented with an acroterion enclosing a wreathed eagle, 2 and 4 November 1801 (5)

Within this grouping, drawings 161-163 are all dated 2 November 1801 and are in Soane's hand. The drawings are much later than the c. 1800 date of the previous 3 designs and show an alteration in ideas. Soane is clearly experimenting with the idea of including side gates, as drawings 161, 164 and 165 show.

The other altered feature is that of the scrolled acroterion which is introduced in drawing 161 on top of the piers, in drawings 162-163 is centralised above the gate and appears on all relevant subsequent drawings (up to drawing 180). Such acroteria were first introduced in February 1796 when George Dance (Soane's mentor) drew out for him details of three types. These had triangular, segmental and semicircular pediments, each with a single scroll on either side (SM volume 41/187-8). For Pitzhanger, Soane designed an oval 'pediment', and this was because he wanted it to enclose a sculpted eagle within an oval wreath. The result is inelegant but suits the semi-rustic character of the gateway.

Drawing 163 has two versions of a four-sided (triangular) pedimented cap to the gate piers, one with conventional ('proper') acroteria and one without. The same drawing introduces a detail beneath the cap that is Soane's version of 'toothing'. Toothing is the projection of alternate header bricks under a cornice or string-course or at eaves level. Soane's toothing is T-shaped and on two planes (or stepped). He uses it in many of the subsequent drawings, making it more emphatic and on three planes (drawings 169 and 174) and then (from drawing 178) discarding it.

Drawing 164 shows the same design as the previous three in more detail - a wreathed eagle is now included within the scrolled acroterion and a grey wash is used to indicate the flint piers. Side gates are pencilled-in. Drawing 165 follows drawing 164 closely and Soane's revision of a side gate is included again.
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