The original seventeenth-century Gothic college formed three sides of a quadrangle. The old college was a symmetrical building with gables and tall chimneys, and Gothic buttresses on the chapel. The buildings had varying fenestration designs; in SM 65/4/3 transomed and mullioned windows are present, and in SM 54/4/1 there are lattice window panes. The College was in a poor condition and Soane observed ‘from the ruinous state of the present west wing... the whole must be taken down’.

The survey drawings are the earliest surviving drawings for Dulwich from Soane’s office. George Allen Underwood was recorded in the Day Book on 28^th February 1811, ‘about plan and elevations’. John Buxton is also recorded in the Day Book for February 1811 ‘about plans of Dulwich College’ on Saturday 16^th, Monday 18^th and Wednesday 20^th, and George Bailey is recorded as ‘taking plans of Dulwich College’ on Monday 11^th February. There were many pupils working on the survey drawings and numerous entries in the Day Books, suggesting that some of the survey drawings have not survived.