L31/245

'Estimate of a house for Rest' in the Duke's hand; 39 ff. of detailed estimates in parchment cover, totalling 16,563. This is the house which Henry, Duke of Kent, intended to build. Plans were got out by Leoni. Anthony, Earl of Harrold, on the grand tour, consulted Juvarra, (see tutor's letters, L30/8), who did not approve of what he thought was too crowded a design, of two small courts, of square turrets for the back stairs, and of a kitchen above ground. He prepared a new plan in 1716, in which the hall was a great oval crowned with dome, taking up two stories, with two great staircases at the sides, two porticos vast and west; pillars & columns between almost every window on each front, and a Corinthian order of the pilasters and statues & vases. According to the Duke's monumental inscription (91-2), the South Sea Bubble in 1720 and Harrold's death in 1723 prevented the rebuilding. f.5-9 'for the carcase':- on the N. front 16 faces of Corinthian capitals are mentioned, and on the S. front 6; f.11-15 'lower story': f.17-22 (middle story?); f.23-27 Upper story; f. 29 sashes; f. 30 wainscot; f.31 drain round house and connecting with octagon basin; f. 34-5 proposed savings. Every details of material and carriage is included; but the design of the house is not very clear.

Before 1720

From: 1710 To: 1719

item

Lucas,
Kent, Henry Grey, 1st Duke of,
Leoni, Giacomo,
Harrold, Anthony Grey, Earl of,
Juvarra

private buildings & land, building plans, tourism, tutor, letters, statues, monumental inscriptions, deaths, general drainage, Wrest, Wrest Park (house), Giacomo Leoni