The Growth of the English House: A short history of its architectural development from 1100 to 1800Gotch, J. Alfred (John Alfred)
History
The Growth of the English House: A short history of its architectural development from 1100 to 1800
Gotch, J. Alfred (John Alfred)
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Domestic
Internal doorways in Jacobean times had frequently been lavishly
ornamented, and the desire to achieve a handsome result had
occasionally led to an extraordinary elaboration. In this respect, as
in others, the cultivated taste of trained architects, such as Inigo
Jones and Webb, led to a more sober and carefully calculated result.
This may be seen at Raynham Park (Fig. 193) by Jones, and at Thorpe
Hall (Fig. 194) by Webb, where there is a delightful mixture of freedom
and austerity. Then came Wren with his massive and masculine hand, of
which the influence, although probably not immediate and direct, is
visible in the doorways at Combe Abbey (Fig. 195) and Love Lane (Fig.
210).
A type of general treatment became firmly established. The very large
panels of the end of the seventeenth century, such as those adopted at
Love Lane, gave place to smaller. Instead of two, doors had six or even
more panels. They were surrounded by a bold architrave, and surmounted
by an overdoor consisting of frieze and cornice, as may be seen in
the example from Hatton Garden (Fig. 186); from the book of Abraham
Swan (Fig. 187); from the old War Office (Fig. 188); or from the later
houses shown in Fig. 196. All the component parts of the design--the
architrave, the frieze, the cornice--lent themselves to enrichment by
carving. But this was generally applied with discretion, and with a
well-regulated wish to heighten the effect without overdoing it. The
carving changed in character with the lapse of years. In the early part
of the century it retained the boldness imparted by Wren and Vanbrugh,
but gradually its vigour gave way to the delicacy and refinement
associated with the names of the brothers Adam, of which type an
excellent example is shown from Sheen House (Fig. 196, _b_).
[Illustration: 195. Doorway at Combe Abbey (1686).
Probably designed by Captain Wynne.]
[Illustration: 196. Three Internal Doorways.
_a._ From a House in Whitehall Gardens (before 1727).
_b._ From Sheen House, Richmond.
_c._ From Cumberland House (Old War Office, 1760–67).]
[Illustration: 197. Chimney-piece from Raynham Hall.]
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