Presentation drawing of the east elevation of the west range of the choir enclosure, including the organ, and part cross-section through the stalls

WRE/4/2/6

c.1693–94

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

Pen and brown ink over pencil under-drawing, with grey wash; some penciled amendments and shading. Thick laid paper. 49.6 x 36.1 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 This full elevation shows the whole west range of the choir enclosure and organ against a section of the inner sides of the crossing piers up to the springings of their arches, and with schematic sections through the inner halves of the choir stalls (excluding the rear staircases and choir aisle screens, shown in plan on WRE/4/1/6 and 7). Drawn by Hawksmoor. Datable 1693-94. Drawn scale, 4 ft to 1 inch.\par \par Dimensionally this elevation is very close to the part-plan of the west range of the stalls, WRE/4/2/5, as both have the outer columns of the choir screen spaced 5 ft apart between the centres (the middle columns here are further apart by about 4 inches) and identically planned steps up to the western stalls. The drawing is the first to show the interior of the choir with the gallery fronts 2 ft 9 inches high, as built. They are carried on long, winged-cherub brackets which prefigure those carved by Grinling Gibbons in 1695-97. The line of the cornice of the internal order beneath the gallery front is almost exactly as constructed, with a corona projecting 2 ft 3 inches from the piers of the choir stalls. The line of this cornice is replicated in the dashed and dotted ink outlines on the part-plan, WRE/4/2/5. \par \par The drawing was probably part of the \lquote Designe\rquote for the \lquote Inside of the Choire\rquote which Wren showed to a general meeting of the Commissioners on 1 May 1694. The organ underwent further changes after a meeting on 10 May, when the Building Committee ordered that it be built 18 ft wide, 22 ft high and 6 ft deep excluding the organist\rquote s seat (Wren Society 16, pp.76-77). Although built to this width and depth, the overall height was about 3 ft greater to the tops of the towers (excluding their sculptural ornaments).\par \par The organ case in the drawing is close to its final form in height and in much of its detail. The towers are level with the tops of the internal capitals excluding their crowning sculptural ornaments; they were built to this height but with octagonal pedestals in their centres instead of tall vase finials (see Trevitt\rquote s view, Wren Society 14, pl.21). The main differences between this organ and the executed scheme are in the overall width - 19 ft 6 inches across the base on this drawing instead of 18 ft - and in the design of the organ \lquote chair\rquote . This feature was enlarged and made square to align with the top of the organ base, and decorated with carved standing figures on the angles and a heavy drapery motif along the top, borne up by winged cherubs; see WRE/4/2/7. \par \par The middle stalls and upper gallery are drawn schematically in section. The rear parts of the stalls and the bench seats beneath the front stalls had been incorporated in the large-scale wooden model built by Charles Hopson in c.1693 and had probably not changed significantly since Wren first presented his designs in October 1693; see WRE/4/1/6 and 13.\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/4/1/6, WRE/4/1/13, WRE/4/1/1, WRE/4/1/3, WRE/4/1/4, WRE/4/1/9, WRE/4/1/10