Incomplete cross-section of the north half of the western body, looking west

WRE/3/4/19

c.1686

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Simon (1661–1733) Gribelin

Pen and brown ink over pencil under-drawing, with additions in pencil. Smooth laid paper. 33.2 x 43.0 cm. No visible watermark.

{\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 near-final cross-section of the western body, showing the design mostly as built at lower level in the north-west chapel. Drawn by Simon Gribelin. Datable c.1686. Implied scale, just under 10 ft to 1 inch (40 ft = 4 1/10 inches or 104 mm).\par \par A companion to WRE/3/4/18 and to the external elevation of the north side, WRE/3/3/16, this section agrees with the fabric in its overall dimensions at church-floor level but not with details of relief work from the aisle window sill and dado rail upwards, where some features are in pencil. The window above the aisle door and its enclosing arch are both set too low, and the vaulting pattern in the concave recess of the chapel has too few ribs. \par \par The outer side wall of the upper library chamber has a niche instead of a window in the central bay, and a triforium window instead of a panel below this. This version of the upper wall elevation - perhaps drawn in error - involved sacrificing windows for niches to create a continuous sequence of blind aedicules around the nave and west front (see WRE/3/3/15 and 16). Notwithstanding this peculiarity, the design at triforium level is more advanced than in the previous sequence of drawings, WRE/3/4/11-13 : the floor of the chamber is lower by about 1 ft and only just above its built level, and an arched wall replaces the flying buttress sketched in pencil between the library and upper nave in WRE/3/4/11.\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/3/3/16, WRE/3/3/15, WRE/6/1/2, WRE/6/1/9