Thomas Cubitt & Downing College, Cambridge

The appointment of Thomas Cubitt to [re]build part of Downing college, to William Wilkin’s designs, was discussed in a letter dated 20th July 1818 [Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/6/2/4]. Research interest is: did someone recommend him and if so whom?

It is interesting that William Porden the then Grosvenor Estate surveyor was involved with Downing College around 1804-6 and possibly later [for example Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/1/4/1; GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/1/D9/7 and GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/1/4 etc]. Porden was one of the unsuccessful entrants, along with Lewis William Wyatt, William Porden and George Byfield in the design competition ultimately won by Willian Wilkins [Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/1].

Cubitt returned a tender ‘for building and stonework’ alongside Edward & Thomas Tomson, Spicer Crowe, Thomas Cubitt, John De Carte and a Mr Broadbridge between July 1818 and August 1818 [Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/3/8]. Research interest is: what were the relative tender returns? How did Cubitt rank? If Cubitt had won the tender how would he have executed whilst in the midst of The London Institution and Calthorpe Estates, which he was struggling with, projects ?

Draft contracts were accordingly prepared in August 1818 [Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/3/9]. Research interest is: do these have any recognisable annotations to them?

Ultimately it seems that the contract, for the Western Side of the College  was entered into with Thomas & Edward Tomson and Spicer & William Crowe, in August 1818 [GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/3/10]. Research interest is: was the Western Side of the College the sole works carried out at this point in time?