Loudon Manuscript

John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843) was employed by Robert Vans Agnew to make recomondations for both the landscape and country residence, known as the Barnbarroch House. Loudon’s planned renovations for Barnbarroch (or Barnbarrow) were detailed in A Treatise of Forming, Improving, and Managing Country Residence, 1806. In this publication he provided before and after views of the improvements which he made upon this estate in Scotland. His goals were to create a more natural setting for the country estate. The manuscipt in the Oak Spring Garden Library collection is a compilation of drawlings and notes that are specific to the architectural recommondation for the house. The Library also contains an extensive collection of volumes authored by both Loundon and his wife, Jane Wells (1807-1858).

See "An Oak Spring Sylva," pages 37-43, "An Oak Spring Flora," pages 324-326

LOUDON, JOHN CLAUDIUS (1783-1843)

SKETCHES OF THE ALTERCATIONS AND ADDITIONS PROPOSED TO BE MADE ON BARNBARROW HOUSE. THE PROPERTY & RESIDINCE OF ROBERT… AGNEW ESQR. LONDON 8TH APRIL 1806

London, 1806 and circa 1820-1841

Oblong manuscript comprises title-page in ink; 24 pen and ink, wash, and watercolor drawings (mounted to leaves) measuring between 4 x 6 inches to 13 ¼ x 20 ½ inches; folded manuscript leaves in paper sleeve pasted to rear paste-down endpaper. In quarter polished brown calf and marbled paper over boards; spine gilt. Spine height: 13 ¾ inches.

Drawings are inscribed:

1. “Elevation of the Front of the House of Barnbarrow.” To the left of the sketch is a strip of cloth fastened to the leaf with two orange wax stamps.
2. “Rough Sketch of the Front and the East End of the House of Barnbarrow done on a Scale of 1 Inch to 10 feet.”
3. “Rough Sketch of the Front and of the East End of the House of Barnbarrow done on a Scale of One Inch to Ten Feet-See the other Side” (Letter in pen and ink on verso, signed: “R. ?. A.”).
4. Bottom left: “Sk. 6th.”
5. Bottom left: “Sk. 7th.”
6. Inscribed lower left: “Intended surface/ Present surface,” and bottom left: “..8th.”
7. Inscribed lower left: “Intended surface/ Present surface,” and bottom left: “Sk. 8th.”
8. Inscribed lower left: “Intended surface/ Present surface,” and bottom left: “Sketch 8th.”
9. Inscribed lower left: “Intended surface/ Present surface,” and bottom left: “Sk. 9th.”
10. Inscribed lower left: “Intended surface/ Present surface,” and bottom left: “Sketch 9th.”
11. Inscribed top center: “Portico,” and bottom left: “Sk 10th.”
12. Inscribed top: “Window Door Window,” and bottom left: “Sketch 11th.” Various inscriptions throughout
13. Inscribed top: “Parapet of the lower wing/ Parapet of the Middle height wing/ Half of End cornice & parapet/ chimney,” and bottom left: “Sketch 12th.”
14. Inscribed top: “Parapet of the lower Wing/ Parapet of the middle height Wing/ Half of End cornice and Parapet/ Chimney,” and bottom left: “Sketch 12th.”
15. Inscribed bottom right: “This sheet contains the Dimensions of the Separate Parts. c.,” and bottom left: “Sk. 13th.” Various inscriptions throughout.
16. Inscribed bottom right: “This Sheet contains the Dimensions of the Separate parts,” and bottom left: “Sk. 13th.” Various inscriptions throughout.
17. Inscribed bottom right: “Sketch 14.” Drawings include: “Full size of the moulding of the base of the columns,” and “Full size of the moulding of the capitals of the Portico columns.”
18. Unlabeled drawing of fence and gate entrance.
19. Inscribed top center: “Section & Plans of an Icehouse.” Various inscriptions throughout and overlay drawing.
20. Three sketches mounted on one leaf. One inscribed at top: “Plans of the proposed East End of the different Floors of the House of Barnbarrow.” One with no inscriptions. The third with inscription at top: “The Plans of this Sheet are done on a Scale of one Inch to Ten Feet” (further inscriptions on verso).
21. Inscribed at top: “Stair from the Ground to principle Floor…” (Inscribed on verso: “Copies of the enclosed were sent to McSheen & McCo… on Febry. 7th 1806.”
22. Three sketches mounted on one leaf. One floor plan with inscriptions on recto and verso. One wash drawing of a gate (watermark: J Whatman 1829). One pen and ink and watercolor drawing of a gate, inscribed on verso: “Design of/ Design of An American Gate/ for Barnbarroch/ 1820.”