The portico steps, churchyard railings and church-floor paving, early 1690s–1713

WRE/7/2

7 drawings

{\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 Wren revised the south and north portico steps shortly before they were built in 1698-99. A half-plan by Hawksmoor, WRE/7/2/1, shows the curvilinear line of the parapet wall evolving from the pencil-drawn plan of a wall in segmental and straight sections and with differently configured outer steps. \par \par WRE/7/2/2 is the surviving west half of a larger plan of the churchyard, prepared by William Dickinson in c.1709. It shows Wren\rquote s proposals for wrought-iron railings around the cathedral and marks the plots divisions and dimensions of the two blocks of houses that were to be demolished on the north side. \par \par WRE/7/2/3 is Dickinson\rquote s revised plan of the approved scheme for cast-iron railings, ordered by Building Committee from Richard Jones in January 1710. It includes the drainage channels laid around the precinct in c.1685-87. Jones's railings were later modified with linking sections to the west portico and Dean\rquote s Door. Another alteration in 1713 created an enclosure around the north portico; see WRE/7/2/4. \par \par Paving the church floor began with the Lord Mayor\rquote s vestry in 1684 and continued with the floor of the choir in 1695-97. A paving plan by Hawksmoor, WRE/7/2/5, is an early proposal for coloured marble flooring between the crossing and the choir. It predates detailed designs for the choir enclosure from 1693. In 1707-09 William Dickinson took charge of drawing up designs for the paving in the crossing. He produced a quarter-plan showing alternative patterns for the coloured marble in the sixteen segments of the crossing circle, WRE/7/2/6, and a magnificent complete plan of the entire cathedral floor as executed by mid-1710, WRE/7/2/7. \cf0\b\f1\par }

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