[Sydney Smirke, architect] Signed Autograph document entitled 'Mr. Sancton Wood's Account with the Great Southern and Western Railway Company. Amount £8645 : 4 : 0. -', defending Wood's charges.

Author: 
Sydney Smirke (1798-1877), architect , best-known for designing the British Museum Reading Room [Sancton Wood (1815-1886), architect and surveyor; The Great Southern and Western Railway Company]
Publication details: 
Dated: 'Sydney Smirke. | 24, Berkeley Square [London] | Dec: 27th: 1851. -'
£150.00
SKU: 15457

2pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with some repairs to the chipped extremities. Begins: 'I have carefully examined this account and various papers connected therewith: and have received detailed verbal & written explanations thereof from Mr. Wood; I have carefully considered Messrs. Byrne's & Darley's report thereon; [...]'. Concludes: '[...], I am of opinion that Mr. Wood is fully justified in all the charges made by him in this account; that those charges are fair and moderate in account, and are all such as are justified by the general practice of the Profession: and I state this not merely as my opinion, but as a fact capable of direct and unquestionable proof.' For more information about the two men, who were related through their mothers (Harriet and Elizabeth Russell), see their entries in the Oxford DNB. According to Sancton Wood's obituary (Institution of Civil Engineers, 1886): 'Having manifested a taste for drawing, he was, through his mother’s influence, admitted into the office of his cousin, Sir Robert Smirke, RA., who was then one of the leading London architects ; from this office he was transferred to that of Mr. Sydney Smirke, R.A., who succeeded to his brother’s practice. He remained with Mr. Sydney Smirke for several years after the expiration of his articles, and was engaged upon the drawings of many important works; amongst others may be mentioned the sketches of the designs for rebuilding the Houses of Parliament, which Sir Robert Smirke had prepared for Sir Robert Peel’s government before the House of Commons decided in favour of an open competition.'