Half-section and half-elevation of a 24-bay dome with a cone-shaped middle dome, developed from WRE/5/2/1

WRE/5/2/2

c.1691–93

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Nicholas (c.1662–1736) Hawksmoor

Pen and brown ink over pencil under-drawing with grey wash, pen and pencil shading and pencilled additions. Smooth, thin laid paper. 40.3 x 32.5 cm. Watermark: Strasbourg lily (without WR pendant); countermark: GI

{\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 revision of the dome in WRE/5/2/1 and the section of WRE/5/1/6, with a single peristyle of columns set in arches and an upper tier of oval windows in the drum. Drawn in ink and wash by Hawksmoor, with pencil-work by Wren. Datable c.1691-93. Implied scale, 20 ft to 1 inch.\par \par The light grey wash on pencil and the finely drawn ink lines are characteristic of Hawksmoor\rquote s hand in the early 1690s; compare WRE/5/1/3 and 4, and WRE/5/2/1. \par \par The peristyle of columns in arches recalls the dome of the Great Model, 1673-74. The base of the cone is at a higher level than in WRE/5/2/1 and has a deep peristyle to contain the outward thrust: this is 21 ft across the lower drum and is formed in radial walls terminated by engaged columns. Slots behind the entablature of the tambour and at the base of the cone mark the positions of iron chains. The upper windows of the drum align with the openings in the internal attic and prefigure the arrangement in the next stage, WRE/5/2/3 and 4.\par \par The pencil-drawn roof structure across the base of the drum is too low for the dome in the section on the left side. It illustrates the relationship of drum and roof after an increase in the height of the drum; see WRE/5/2/4. \par The pencilled window in the diagonal bay of the drum reappears on WRE/5/2/3. Below the left side is a pencilled part-plan of a 32-bay peristyle with a pier mass in the fourth bay which anticipates the next stage. \par \par Other pencil sketches explore alternatives for the radial bays of the peristyle. At bottom left is a small study for bays with outer and inner columns attached to central wall pieces; to the right are sketches of pairs of freestanding columns, and a pedestal or buttress in section. At bottom centre is the plan of a bay of the peristyle with an opening in the radial wall.\cf0\b\f1\par \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/5/1/6, WRE/5/1/3, WRE/5/1/4, WRE/5/1/1