Thomas Cubitt & Downing College, Cambridge

Thomas Cubitt & Downing College, Cambridge

Page credit to Jenny Ulph, Archivist at Downing College, Cambridge for kindly digitising the documents on this page.

The Wilkins designed East Range, Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge, East Range by William Wilkins ca 1818. Completed by E. M. Barry 1876. Photograph, Jacqueline Banerjee. 

The possible appointment of Thomas Cubitt tobuild 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]. This is clearly connected with his work for the London Institution as stated Page 1, Paragraph 2.

First page of a letter discussing the suitability of various candidates including Thomas Cubitt to build Wilkins' designs for Downing College, Cambridge.

Second page of a letter discussing the suitability of various candidates including Thomas Cubitt to build Wilkins' designs for Downing College, Cambridge.
Copy letter from George Frere to William Wilkins re Thomas Cubitt and others dated 20th July 1818. By kind permission of Downing College, Cambridge. DCAR/1/2/2/6/2/4.

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 click for all of the original tender return letters as a PDF  – a remarkable survival].

Tender for executing Wilkins' designs for Downing College, Cambridge in the hand of and signed by Thomas Cubitt.
Cubitt’s tender return for the Wilkin’s designs, dated 11th August 1818, By kind permission of Downing College, Cambridge. DCAR/1/2/2/3/8.

Cubitt was in the correct ball park for the costs. One tender, for just under eight thousand pounds, was received which was quite correctly discounted as it was not credible.  As per usual, the lowest credible  tenderer was chosen.

True to form Wilkins, who had quite the artistic temperament delayed and did not produce drawings and specifications on time for the works to progress smoothly. This lead to costs inflating considerably: as was found on the later UCL project.

Draft contracts were accordingly prepared in August 1818 [Downing College Archives GBR/0269/DCAR/1/2/2/3/9].

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].

It is interesting to speculate if Cubitt had been chosen for either or both of the Downing & UCL projects: would he have been able to deliver to his price in spite of Wilkin’s renowned procrastination? It is generally acknowledged that when Cubitt was left to, as with Osborne or Buckingham Palace, it he generally did manage to hit his specified price.