There is some uncertainty about the purpose of this painting; although this scene appears to be a true reconstruction illustration depicting the yard as it may have appeared in the medieval period, earlier sketches of the scene appear to include modern figures and structures (see IC110/002 and IC110/003). Between 1972 and 1974, a five-level underground car park was constructed under New Palace Yard to serve the Houses of Parliament, and this illustration could relate to surface landscaping works or information panels to be placed at the site in connection with the development. (see design proposal IC110/014). Alternatively, in 1977 a Jubilee Fountain was erected in New Palace Yard to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, and although the fountain actually erected in 1977 is of a different design, it could be that the sketches and this painting indicate an original intention to recreate the design of medieval fountain that was never carried through to the final design stage. The onion-dome roofed fountain canopy shown in this drawing appears to have been based on an illustration of a late-medieval or Tudor fountain canopy on the site shown in an engraving of 1647 by Bohemian engraver Wenceslaus Hollar. The presence of a Department of the Environment sheet number on the drawing lends weight to the argument that this was in fact one of a set of design proposal sketches for a new fountain on the site, although this particular design appears to have been rejected.
Illustration proposal sketch IC110/003 shows the same scene from another angle, but evidently was not selected to be taken through to the final stage of illustration.
This is part of the Volume: IC110 Westminster, Greater London: Palace of Westminster, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Jewel Tower; within the Series: EHC01/146 English Heritage Reconstruction and Artwork Collection; within the Collection: EHC01 English Heritage(EH):Archive
© Historic England Archive
Illustrator: Ball, Terry
Medieval Yard, Medieval Royal Palace, Medieval Fountain
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