Plan of extensions to Ashley Park, near Walton, Surrey, seat of Richard Boyle, 2nd Viscount Shannon in the Vanbrugh Album; Sir Edward Lovett Pearce (ca.1695-1733).

Maps and papers relating to Ashly. Plan of extensions to Ashley Park, near Walton, Surrey, seat of Richard Boyle, 2nd Viscount Shannon.

Part of the Vanbrugh Album, which was purchased in 1992 with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Art Collections Fund, The Monument Trust, The Sainsbury Trust, and an anonymous donor.

See E.2124.14. The house was known to have been built from 1602 and was finally demolished in 1925. This plan shows in outline the north wing of the old house with semi-circular bows on the east and west ends. The proposed extension comprises a new office and servants range the width of the wing, a connecting corridor to a laundry and kitchen block overlooking the kitchen garden on the west side, and a courtyard with a concave wall on the east with the already built stable block set in the north-east angle. There are similarities between the east front centre and Vanbrugh's own house at Claremont; however the plan is in Pearce's hand. Pearce and Vanbrugh could have been involved together at Ashley, with Pearce continuing to work there after Vanbrugh's death in 1726. Alternatively, Vanbrugh could have initiated the work with Pearce being summoned to continue, complete or extend Vanbrugh's work in 1726.

Attribution note: Scale: 2 1/2 inches to 40 feet.

Maps and papers relating to Ashly. Plan of extensions to Ashley Park, near Walton, Surrey, seat of Richard Boyle, 2nd Viscount Shannon.

This drawing is part of the Vanbrugh Album from the Library at Elton Hall. The Album contains 254 drawings and includes works by Sir John Vanbrugh, Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, William Talman, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Richard Castle and anonymous draughtsmen in Vanbrugh's office. It was created ca. 1945-54 and was purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum in 1992.

E.2124:90-1992