Reference
Z493/19
Title
MOGERHANGER PARK
Photographs of Humphrey Repton's Red Book for "Mogenhanger in Bedfordshire, a Seat of Godfrey Thornton Esqr.", made between 28th May and August 1792. Photographs made c.1986 by National Monuments Record, negative numbers BB 86/26.
P.14 View from the Drawing room.
Reads - There is a difficulty in the management of this view, from the drawing-room window being placed so near to the door of the house; because it is almost impossible to preserve an air of neatness under the windows of a drawing room (especially when they are very low) while the hall door requires an expanse of gravel for coaches to turn upon, and is exposed to the occasional defilement of Horses waiting at the door, and immediately under the windows.
I am aware that this disposition of the rooms was not a matter of choice at Mogenhanger, such inconveniences being often unavoidable where Genius is confined to the altering of an old house, instead of having full latitude to plan a new one; but it is necessary for me to explain the difficulty, and point out the manner in which we may best obviate the inconveniences arising from this proximity of the drawing room and the Entrance. I propose that the road shall pass in the form of a neat gravel walk under the drawing room window to the door, and return by a sweep at some distance behind a shrubbery, and close to the light fence which incloses a portion of dressed ground near the house as shewn on the map.
Reproduction Conditions - Copyright in the following prints is vested in Sothebys
Date free text
1792-1986
Production date
From: 1792 To: 1986
Level of description
item