Is 
 
sptaug, (Bleimtumg, 
 etc* etc* 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/dejsignsforpropos00thom 
 
STAIRS LEADING TO RINGS CORRIDOR 
 
DESIGNS 
 
 FOR THE PROPOSED 
 
 NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, 
 
 CONSISTING OP 
 
 FOUR PLANS, FOUR GEOMETRICAL ELEVATIONS, ONE LONGITUDINAL AND TWO 
 TRANSVERSE SECTIONS, WITH TWO PERSPECTIVE VIEWS; 
 
 REDUCED TO HALF THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINALS, 
 
 SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE OF TASTE, 
 
 DECEMBER 1st. 1835. 
 
 DESIGNED AND DRAWN ON STONE, 
 
 By PETER THOMPSON, 
 
 CARPENTER AND BUILDER. 
 
 " & iWansion rose 
 In indent Icnglisi) (JKranoeur; turrets, Spires, 
 
 unn&ofos, climbing ijic$ from base to roof, 
 In toi&e aiili raoiant rofos, bespoke its birtfj 
 ©ocbal untlj tj)oSe rich, catfieliral jfancs, 
 (ffiotfjic ilUnamco) toljcre harmong results 
 iFrom Disunited parts ; anD Shapes minute, 
 &t once distinct anD blen&eo, bol&lg form 
 ©ne bast JWajestic fol)ole." 
 
 Mason's English Garden. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND PUBLISHED BY PETER THOMPSON, 3, OSNABURGH PLACE, NEW ROAD, 
 REGENT'S PARK, AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1836. 
 
JAMES TURNER, PRINTER, 
 
 GUILDFORD PLACE. 
 
®0 
 
 W$ ftlalejStn fSHtUtatn tfve dTottrtfi, 
 
 Ittng of 0reat Britain an& #relan&, etc* etc* etc* ; 
 €J)£ ^ere&ttaig peerage of <25reat ttrttatn ; 
 
 C&e Jttem&cra: of tf)* ffiom of (ftommong, 
 
 ®f)c follotomg Designs 
 
 dfor t&e ^ropo^eb iBteb? ffioum of pirltatrant, 
 
 &re most respectMlrj tirtrtcateif, 
 3Sg J&a}c<stg'<s faithful subject, 
 
 lletev €J)omp$on, 
 
 iFebruarg, 1836. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In July 1835, a notice appeared in the Gazette, stating that the designs 
 for the proposed New Houses of Parliament were, according to the recom- 
 mendation of the Committees of the Lords and Commons, open to general 
 competition ; that the five candidates whose designs should appear the most 
 deserving, should each receive five hundred pounds ; and that a further 
 sum of one thousand pounds would be given to the candidate whose design 
 should be approved of, in the event of his not being entrusted with the 
 execution of the work. Candidates were also requested to send in their 
 plans and drawings to the Office of the Woods and Works Department, by 
 1st December, 1835, where they would be submitted to the inspection and 
 examination of five Commissioners, who were to decide upon the five designs 
 which appeared most deserving of reward. The Commissioners appointed 
 by His Majesty, on the address of both Houses of Parliament, were Sir 
 Edward Cust; the Hon. H. T. Liddell ; Hanbury Tracy, Esq.; J. Vivian, 
 Esq. ; and Samuel Rogers, Esq. The latter gentleman however, previous 
 to the designs being sent in, declined to act. 
 
 As this was the first instance of the architectural designs for a great 
 National Work being open to public competition, I determined to send in a 
 set ; not so much in the hope of being a successful candidate, as with the 
 wish to contribute to the number of designs, from which the Commissioners 
 were to make their selection. The work for which the designs were required 
 was, in the fullest sense of the word, a National one ; every person who 
 
PREFACE 
 
 pleased might send in a design ; and in a competition where many archi- 
 tects of distinguished reputation must necessarily be unsuccessful, a candi- 
 date who ranks himself no higher than a Carpenter and Builder would not 
 be likely to feel either disappointed or mortified if his designs should be 
 found among the eighty or ninety sets which are sure to be declined. 
 
 It is not therefore with the slightest feeling of disappointment or of envy 
 at others' success, that these designs are made public. At the time that I 
 began to make the original designs, I also determined to publish them ; and 
 while they were in progress I began to make the following reduced copies on 
 stone. As to who the successful candidates might be, I neither speculated 
 nor cared. What were my ideas of a Building worthy of a British Parlia- 
 ment, in point of architectural style, and capable of affording accommodation 
 in its internal arrangements, are in the following designs most respectfully 
 submitted to the Public ; and in pursuing this course, I am most wishful 
 to be understood as not appealing from the judgment of the Commissioners, 
 of whose determination up to the present moment I am wholly ignorant. 
 
 It surely cannot be considered as casting any reflection on the designs of 
 others, whether successful or not, if I take the liberty of publishing my own. 
 I thus merely afford a means of comparison, from which those persons who 
 have produced superior designs can have nothing to fear. A professed 
 architect however, whose designs are not decidedly superior to those of a 
 mere carpenter will scarcely venture to publish them. 
 
 As it was resolved by the select Committee of the Lords and Commons, 
 that the style of the Building should be either Gothic or Elizabethan, and 
 that a certain number of rooms would be required, it appears necessary to 
 give a brief abstract of some of the principal heads in the Resolutions and 
 Reports of the Committees of the Lords and Commons, appointed to consi- 
 der and report upon such Plan as might be most fitting and convenient for 
 the accommodation of the Houses of Parliament. 
 
 The House of Peers was to be capable of containing three hundred per- 
 sons on the floor, and a lobby was to be provided, for members of the House 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 • • • 
 111 
 
 of Commons and persons waiting to be called in, not less than forty feet by 
 thirty, opposite the centre of the great door; with a hall outside of the said 
 lobby. Leading round the outside of the House, there had to be a passage, 
 communicating with the lobbies and gang-ways in the interior. The number 
 of offices and committee-rooms required by the Peers, amounted to not less 
 than ninety. 
 
 In the House to be provided for the Commons, sitting room was required 
 for from four hundred and twenty to four hundred and sixty members, in 
 the body of the House, and adequate accommodation for the remainder in 
 the galleries, not exceeding twelve hundred feet of sitting-room in all. A 
 passage, in the same manner as that surrounding the House of Peers, was to 
 be provided, surrounding the House, and conveniently communicating with 
 the lobbies and gang-ways. Two lobbies or rooms were to be provided 
 immediately adjoining the opposite sides or ends of the House; one of 
 which was to contain (with an adjoining room if necessary), not less than 
 eighteen hundred square feet, and the other not less than eleven-hundred 
 square feet. Besides these there was to be an outer lobby for strangers 
 desirous of speaking to Members on their entrance to the House ; and at 
 the lower end of the House there was to be one or more galleries for 
 strangers, capable of containing two hundred persons ; each of which gal- 
 leries was to have a separate access, with a retiring room respectively, 
 at no great distance, for strangers to occupy when the House should be 
 cleared. Thirty Committee-rooms were also required ; with an official 
 residence for the Speaker, apartments for the Chief Clerk, and accom- 
 modation for various other officers connected with the House. 
 
 For the House of Lords a Library was required consisting of two rooms, 
 each sixty feet by thirty, with an adjoining room thirty feet square ; and the 
 Library of the Commons was to consist of three rooms, each sixty feet long, 
 and wide and lofty in proportion. The total number of rooms required for 
 the due accommodation of the Peers and Commons, with their attendant 
 officers and servants, would altogether amount to about four hundred. 
 
iv 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The following Resolutions, Nos. 5 and 6 of the Lords' Committee, are 
 here given without abridgment. 
 
 " 5. Resolved, That the Committee concur in the Resolution of the 
 House of Commons, that a Premium of £500 should be given to each of 
 the Parties, whose Plans shall be recommended by the Commissioners, and 
 that the successful competitor shall not be considered as having necessa- 
 rily a Claim to be entrusted with the Execution of the Work, but if not 
 so employed that he shall receive an additional Reward of £ 1000. 
 
 "6. Resolved, That the Committee are of opinion that all designs should 
 be executed on one and the same scale ; viz., of twenty feet to an inch ; 
 and that no coloured drawing of any kind should be received, nor any 
 perspective ones, but such as shall be taken from situations selected and 
 specified on the Lithographic Plan to be delivered to the parties." 
 
 According to the terms of the latter Resolution, the original designs, of 
 which the following are reduced copies of half the size, were drawn to 
 a scale of twenty feet to an inch, and the Perspective Views taken from 
 situations indicated on the Lithographic Plan referred to. 
 
 3, Osnaburgh Place, New Road. 
 2 nd February, 1836. 
 
(Emanation of %ll<ui& 
 etc* etc* 
 
PLAN OF THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE HOUSES OF 
 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 1 Speaker's official residence, Library, 
 
 Breakfast and Dining-rooms, etc. 
 
 2 Members' Rooms for Great Coats. 
 
 3 Members' waiting for Carriages. 
 
 4 Members' Servants. 
 
 5 Commons' Portico, Entrance-Hall and 
 
 Stairs. 
 
 6 Lobby with Stairs to Strangers' Gal- 
 
 lery. 
 
 7 Commons' Committee-rooms. 
 
 8 Lobby. 
 
 9 Members' and Strangers' Dining- 
 
 rooms. 
 
 10 Commons' Housekeeper's residence. 
 
 11 Commons' Library. 
 
 12 Clerk of Engrossments. 
 
 13 Clerk of the Journal offices. 
 
 14 Store-rooms for the Clerk of the 
 
 Journals. 
 
 15 Clerk of Elections. 
 
 16 Clerk of Recognizance. 
 
 17 Vote-office, with Store-rooms, etc. 
 
 18 Private Bill offices. 
 
 19 Commons' Door-keeper's Dressing 
 
 room. 
 
 20 Commons' Serjeant-at-Arms' official 
 
 residence. 
 
 21 Store for Stationary. 
 
 22 Peers' Librarian's official residence. 
 
 23 Deputy Speaker of Peers' House. 
 
 24 Archbishops. 
 
 25 Bishops. 
 
 26 Earl Marshal. 
 
 27 Peers' Serjeant-at-Arms. 
 
 28 Prison. 
 
 29 Peers' Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms. 
 
 30 Bishops' Servants. 
 
 31 Lord Chancellor. 
 
 32 Lord Chancellor's office. 
 
 33 Sealer's office. 
 
 34 Dressing-room. 
 
 35 Peers' Chairman of Committees. 
 
 36 Peers' Committee-rooms. 
 
 37 Witnesses. 
 
 38 Fire-proof Repositories. 
 
 39 Peers' Portico, Entrance-Hall, and 
 
 Stairs. 
 
 40 Peers' Servants. 
 
 41 Lobby. 
 
 42 Peers' Cloak-room. 
 
 43 Peers' Doorkeeper's Dressing-room. 
 
 44 Peers' Dining-room. 
 
 45 Bar. 
 
 46 Peers' Housekeeper's residence. 
 
 47 King's Portico, Entrance-Hall, and 
 
 Stairs. 
 
 48 Attendance-room for Peers. 
 
 49 Resident Doorkeeper, and receiver of 
 
 Peers' Letters. 
 
 50 Gentlemen-Usher's official residence. 
 
 51 King's Guard of Honour. 
 
 52 Police. 
 
 53 Engine-House. 
 
PLAN OF THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 1 Kitchen and Offices to the Speaker's 
 
 official residence. 
 
 2 Store-rooms. 
 
 3 Kitchen and offices to the residence of 
 
 the Peers' Librarian. 
 
 4 Room for the erection of warming and 
 
 ventilating apparatus for Public 
 rooms. 
 
 5 Vaults for fuel. 
 
 6 Kitchen and offices to Commons' 
 
 Housekeeper's residence. 
 
 7 Kitchen and offices to the official 
 
 residence of the Serjeant at Arms. 
 
 8 Passage communicating under Terrace 
 
 to the River Thames. 
 
 9 Room for the erection of warming and 
 ventilating apparatus for Public- 
 rooms. 
 
 10 Labourer-in-Trust's offices for various 
 
 artificers. 
 
 1 1 Kitchen and offices to Peers' House- 
 
 keeper. 
 
 12 Kitchen and offices to Bar establish- 
 
 ment. 
 
 13 Kitchen and offices to resident Door- 
 
 keeper and Receiver of Peers' 
 Letters. 
 
 14 Kitchen and offices to the official 
 
 residence of the Gentleman-Usher 
 of the Black Rod. 
 
PLAN OF THE PRINCIPAL FLOOR OF THE HOUSES OF 
 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 1 Speaker's official residence. 
 
 2 Speaker's offices, consisting of Secre- 
 
 tary's, Strangers', and Sheriffs' of 
 London. 
 
 3 Post office. 
 
 4 Commons' Portico, Entrance Hall and 
 
 Stairs. 
 
 5 Stairs. 
 
 G House of Commons, with 
 
 Doorkeeper and Messengers'-rooms 
 at entrance. 
 
 7 Lobby for Ayes, on divisions, 
 
 8 Lobby for Noes, on divisions. 
 
 9 Commons' refreshment-rooms. 
 
 10 Commons' Committee-rooms. 
 
 11 Commons' Serjeant-at-Arms' official 
 
 residence. 
 
 12 Commons' Libraries. 
 
 13 Clerk of the Fees offices. 
 
 14 Chaplain. 
 
 15 Speaker's retiring-room. 
 
 16 Witnesses. 
 
 17 Committee Clerks' office. 
 
 18 Vote office, communicating by stairs to 
 
 offices on the ground floor. 
 
 19 Public and Private conference-rooms, 
 
 between Peers and Commons. 
 
 20 Peers' Portico, Entrance Hall, and 
 
 Stairs. 
 
 21 Peers' Collector of Fees, Marshalman. 
 
 22 Lobby. 
 
 23 House of Peers, with 
 
 Doorkeeper and Messengers'-rooms 
 at entrance. 
 
 24 Kings' Robing-rooms. 
 
 25 Peers' Libraries. 
 
 26 Peers' Librarian's official residence. 
 
 27 Assistant Reading, and Committee- 
 
 Clerks. 
 
 28 Clerk attending the Table of the 
 
 House. 
 
 29 Reading and Committee Clerk. 
 
 30 Additional Clerk Assistant. 
 
 31 Clerk Assistant. 
 
 32 Vote office. 
 
 33 Peers' Robing-rooms. 
 
 34 Peers' Committee and Witnesses- 
 
 rooms 
 
 35 Masters in Chancery. 
 
 36 Counsel attending the House. 
 
 37 Agents and Solicitors. 
 
 38 Witnesses. 
 
 39 Lord Chamberlain's Offices. 
 
 40 Peers' Coffee and refreshment-room. 
 
 41 Clerks' Business office. 
 
 42 Clerk of the Journals. 
 
 43 Copying Clerk. 
 
 44 Clerks office. 
 
 45 Clerk of Engrossments. 
 
 46 Clerks' Business office. 
 
 47 Yeoman Ushers' Dressing-room. 
 
 48 Gentlemen Ushers' official residence. 
 
r 
 
 PLAN OF THE GALLERIES OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 1 Speakers' official residence, consist- 
 
 ing of Bed-rooms, Dressing-rooms 
 e'c. 
 
 2 Commons' Housekeeper's residence. 
 
 3 Commons' Committee-rooms. 
 
 4 Commons' Gallery. 
 
 5 Visitors' Gallery. 
 
 6 Strangers' and Reporters' Gallery. 
 
 7 Strangers' retiring-room, on Divisions. 
 
 8 Reporters' retiring-room. 
 
 9 Commons' Librarian's Bed-room. 
 
 10 Serjeant-at-Arms' official residence. 
 
 1 1 Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms. 
 
 12 Messenger. 
 
 13 Prison. 
 
 14 Peers' Librarian's residence. 
 
 15 Examination of Papers. 
 
 16 Distributor of Journals. 
 
 17 Clerks engaged at the Indexes. 
 
 18 Serjeant, and Deputy Serjeant-at- 
 
 Arms. 
 
 19 Peers' Gallery, and retiring-room. 
 
 20 Reporter's Gallery, and retiring-room 
 
 21 Strangers' Gallery, and retiring-room. 
 
 22 Parliamentary office. 
 
 23 Clerk of Works' office. 
 
 24 Gentlemen -Ushers' official residence. 
 
 N.B. It may not be improper here to state, that the probable expence 
 in erecting a Building of this magnitude, to be built internally fire proof, and 
 externally in the most substantial manner would amount to £1,080,000. 
 
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