Design for the stables and terrace, Down House Estate (illustrated); Plans traditionally identified as the Government House of Canada and the Church of the Four Nations (2, 1 illustrated); and Designs for a warming system (2)

The plans of stables and terrace probably relate to Downhill, Northern Ireland, largely built by Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, known as the Earl Bishop from circa 1772. The house is now ruined but was occupied until shortly after the end of the Second World War

Charles James Richardson worked for Sir John Soane between 1824 - 1837 and it was whilst working for him that he became interested in the question of heating buildings. Soane installed an early steam heating system at Tyringham in 1797 and installed a more complex and efficient system in his own home at Lincoln Inn Fields as well as other systems in the mid to late 1820s. Richardson probably assisted Soane in these systems and his interest clearly grew as in 1837 Richardson published his groundbreaking A popular Treatise on the Warming and Ventilation of Building: showing the Advantage of the Improved System of Hot Water Circulation.

We are grateful to Stephen Astley, Helen Dorey and Susan Palmer and the rest of the team at the Sir John Soane's Museum, London for all their assistance with the group of 18th and 19th century architectural drawings and designs.