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WD1003
- Record Id:
- 040-003280588
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003280587
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100028181659.0x002af7
- LARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100137996895.0x000001
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- WD1003
- Title:
-
Plan of the basement storey of the New Government House, Calcutta.. Artist(s): Best, James (fl. 1804)
- Scope & Content:
-
Pen-and-ink and wash plan by James Best (fl. 1804) of the basement storey of New Government House at Calcutta in West Bengal, dated c. 1804.
Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Plan of the Basement Story of the New Government House. Drawn by Jas Best’; and ‘30.’
This image shows the ground floor of the building with its large exterior ceremonial staircase on the north side. Normally this type of staircase is situated inside an English country house but here it is outside and the ground floor is entered through a porch hidden beneath it. There was also a special dining hall on the ground floor for use in the hot weather. This, together with a number of other modifications due to the hot climate of Calcutta, including the changes to the building's four wings, mark the differences between this structure and the model upon which it was based, Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. Marquess Wellesley became Governor-General of Calcutta in 1798 and decided that the existing Government House was not a suitable building for his position and needs. He commissioned Captain Charles Wyatt of the Engineers, to be the architect of his new Government House. Four large ceremonial gateways marked each end of the carriageways on the north and south facades, which were partly based on Adam's archways at Syon House in Middlesex.
- Collection Area:
- Visual Arts
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003280587
040-003280588 - Is part of:
- WD1003-1005, WD1319-1320 : BEST, JAMES (fl. 1804) Assistant in the Drawing Office of the Chief Engineer, Major-General Cameron, Calcutta.…
WD1003 : Plan of the basement storey of the New Government House, Calcutta.. Artist(s): Best, James (fl. 1804) - Hierarchy:
- 032-003280587[0001]/040-003280588
- Container:
- View / search within Archive / Collection: WD1003-1005, WD1319-1320
- Record Type (Level):
- File
- Extent:
- 1 Item
- Digitised Content:
- http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100137996895.0x000001 (digital images currently unavailable)
- Thumbnail:
-
- Languages:
- Not applicable
- Scripts:
- Not applicable
- Styles:
- British school
European school - Start Date:
- 1803
- End Date:
- 1805
- Date Range:
- c 1804
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
-
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- User Conditions:
- Appointment required to view these records. Please consult Asian and African Studies Print Room staff.
- Physical Characteristics:
-
Medium: pen-and-ink; wash.
- Material Type:
- Prints, Drawings and Paintings
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)