Half-plan of the colonnade of the lantern, not as executed, with part-plans of the attics superimposed

WRE/6/2/8

c.1703

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, William (1671–1725) Dickinson

Pen and dark brown ink over pencil with grey and light grey washes, with additions in pencil, pinkish-red ink and yellow gouache. Trimmed sheet of smooth laid paper. 34.4 x 38.3 cm. Watermark: Strasbourg lily WR

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Microsoft Sans Serif;}{\f1\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 System;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue128;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs20 A half-plan study for the lantern stage of the western towers, with two levels of the attic superimposed in stippled and coloured outlines (stage 5). Drawn by Dickinson. Coloured revisions probably by Wren. Datable c.1703. Drawn scale, 2 7/8 ft to 1 inch (5 ft = 44.5 mm).\par \par In a final revision of the lanterns Wren projected pairs of columns outwards in the diagonal bays, alongside equally spaced pairs of columns in the colonnade. The eight pairs form an alternating sequence with L-shaped groups pier responds in the re-entrant angles. Above the diagonal bays, piers and arches carry parallel concave ribs around an attic of eight equal bays. \par \par Dickinson\rquote s hand is evident from the style of numbering and the triple-dot divisions in the scale bar (compare WRE/7/2/2). He used a light grey wash to mark the T-shaped staircase that rises through the pedestal of the diagonal bay to the passage within the peristyle, and dotted outlines for the steps that ascend from the lower wall passage. In the fabric this passage runs behind the pediments of the clock and belfry openings. At main peristyle level an oval spiral stair links the drum with the inner angle of the diagonal bay. This was deleted from the final design and may have been replaced by an iron ladder on the inner wall of the drum. Such a ladder is indicated by pencil dashes on WRE/6/2/9. \par \par Above the peristyle, darker dotted outlines mark an initial plan for the piers and arches of the attic stage. Pinkish-red outlines, probably by Wren, revise this plan (compare similar amendments on WRE/5/3/9). The pier responds of the arches are enlarged and their inner faces are curved to follow the line of the drum. The wall of the drum is made 9 inches rather than 7 inches thick. The thicker wall is the executed one and appears on the section, WRE/6/2/9 (see also Poley 1927, pl.21). \par \par The upper level of the attic stage has been revised in freehand yellow gouache lines. The windows are narrower and the wall is less than 9 inches thick. This arrangement does not agree with the final scheme shown at the uppermost level on WRE/6/2/9 and 11, where the windows are in a 9-inch wall set inwards by 9 inches from the wall of the main attic stage. Thus the drawing is slightly earlier than the full-height section, WRE/6/2/9. \par \par \cf0\b\f1\par }

Access to the Wren office drawings held at London Metropolitan Archives is available only with advance notice and at the discretion of the Heritage Services Director, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HB.

WRE/7/3/2, WRE/7/2/2