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PLANS of SION HOUSE,
FROM TIlE
DESIGNS of ROBERT ADAM.
N the year 1762, the Duke of Northumberland came to the refolution ot
fitting up the apartments of Sion House, in a magnificent manner. He
communicated his intentions to me, and having expreffed his defire, that the
whole might be executed intirely in the antique flyle, he was pleafed, in terms
very flattering, to fignify his confidence in my abilities to follow out his idea.
Upon this plan, the alterations and infide decorations of Sion House were
begun, and as the idea was to me a favourite one, the fubjea great, the expence
unlimited, and the Duke himfelf a person of extenfive knowledge and corre6t
tafle in architefture, I endeavoured to render it a noble and elegant habitation,
not unworthy of a proprietor, who poffeffed not only wealth to execute a great
defign, but skill to judge of its merit.
Some inequality in the levels on the old floors, fome limitations from the
fituation of the old walls, and fome want of additional heights to the enlarged
apartments, were the chief difficulties with which I had to ftruggle. Thefe
difficulties I flatter myfelf are in a great meafure furmounted, fo as not only
to procure much convenience in the arrangement of the apartments, but
likewife an elegant form and graceful proportion in the principal rooms.
The inequality of levels has been managed in fuch a manner as to increafe
the fcenery and add to the movement, fo that an apparent defeft has been
converted into a real beauty.
EXPLANATION of the PLATES.
PLATE I.
Plan and elevation of the GATEWAY and PORTERs-LODGES,fronting
the great mef road.
The collonade and iron rail underneath, not only give an air of magni-
ficence to this building, but were alfo intended by His Grace to gratify the
curiotity of the public, by giving to travellers an opportunity of viewing from
the road, the park, lawn, bridge, river, and the houfe itfelf at a little diftance,
clofing the beautiful fcene.
An infcription was propofed on the pannel over the gateway.
on the pedeltal at top is the ancient creft of the Percys.
The lyon
PLATE II.
Detail, or parts at large of the GATEWAY fronting the great ivefl road.
This detail will be found to have novelty, and I hope fome degree of beauty
to recommend it. The capital is altogether new, and has been deemed not
unplealing. The lyon's head introduced on the abbacus, and alfo in the
center of the patera, and the claws, which whimlically form the bafes of the
pilalters, allude to the Percy crelt.
The
PLANS du CHATEAU de SION,
D'APR]ES LES
DESSEINS DE ROBERT ADAM.
EN   I762, le Duc de Northumberland r6folut d'ajufter magnifiquement lon
Chateau de Sion. I1 me cornmuniqua fon deffein; et apr6s m'avoir
exprim6 l'envie qu'il avoit que tout fut d'apras le file antique, il me fit
fentir en termes flatteurs qu'ils fe repofoit I dessus entidrement fur mot.
Je commencai donc fur ce plan les alt6rations et les ddcorations
intdrieures du chateau; et comme ce deffein me flattoit infiniment, comme
le projet etoit vafte, la d6pence illimitde, et que le Duc lui-mame fe connoit
tras bien en ouvrages d'architefture, je fis mon poffible pour rendre ce
chateau une demeure noble et 616gante, digne, en un mot, d'un poffeffeur
affez riche pour extcuter un grand deffein, et trgs en etat de juger de fon
mdrite.
Quelque in6galit6 dans le niveau des chambres, quelque limitation de
]a part des murs, et quelque deffaut d'6l6vation dans les grands appartements,
furent les principaux obffacles que j'eus dt furmonter; et j'ofe me flatter
d'avoir r~uffi d rendre tr~s commode la ditribution des appartements, les
proportions des principales pidces tr~s 61gantes et d'une forme fort agr6able.
J'ai mdnag6 1'indgalit6 du niveau de mani6re A rendre le coup d'eil plus
frappant et plus anim6; de forte qu'un deffaut apparent a td chang6 en
beaut6 r~elle.
EXPLICATION DES PLANCHES.
PLANCHE I.
Plan et dlIvationdu PORTAIL et des CHAMBRES du fuiffe de PoRTE,
en face le grand chemin d l'ouefl.
La collonade et la grille de fer ne donnent pas fimplement un air de
magnificence A ce batiment; elles fervent encore, felon lintention du Duc,
at gratifier la curiofit6 du public, en permettant aux paffans de joufr de la
vtie du park, du linon, du pont, de la rivi6re et du chateau, qui un peu
dans l'enfoncement fert a terminer le tableau.
On devoit mettre une infcription fur le panneau au deffus du portail
le lion, fur le piedellal qui en termine le fomet, ei tin ancien cimier de la
famille des Percys.
PLANCHE 1H.
Partie en grand du PORTAII,, en face le grand chernin d lonejt.
Ce detail paroitra nouveau, et l'on y trouvera, j'efphre, quelque beaut6.
Le chapiteau eli entidrement neuf, et il n'a pas 6t6 jug dfagrdable. La t6te
de lion introduite dans i'abbacus et au centre du patera, de mdme que les
gritfes qui forment la bafe des pilaltres, font allulion au cimier des Percys.
LiBRAIW