Snow Hill

28 original drawings and one photograph of the head office of Burroughs Wellcome & Co (BW&Co), located at Snow Hill, London.

Bought in 1883, it was the headquarters of BW&Co until it was bombed in May 1941. Wellcome was personally involved in designing and furnishing the interior of the building: no easy task given the building's curved shape. As the drawings show, Moorish curves were ideal for a building Wellcome himself described as having "not a single right-angle". Designed by Wellcome, the interior arrangements were executed under the direction of Christopher Dresser, now regarded as Britain's first industrial designer. It was also one of the first business houses in London to be lit using electric light.

A detailed description of the drawings follows:

Wall decoration using architectural orders, with Corinthian pillars, mosaic within frieze with 'BURROUGHS WELLCOME & CO.' inscribed. Pen and brown and black ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 555 mm x width 420 mm. Poor condition.

Wall decoration with floor mosaic partially visible, showing 3 Moorish style windows and sign above it below architrave inscribed, 'BURROUGHS WELLCOME & CO.' Pen and brown and black ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 502 mm x width 364 mm.

Main show room, Snow Hill. Albumen photograph. Mounted. Dimensions height 342 mm x width 448 mm.

Bureau showing the interior desk with compartments visible with outer doors in open position and other sketches of office furniture. Graphite drawing on paper. Dimensions height 533 mm x width 661mm.

Writing Desk with lamp and writing quill. Pen and brown ink with white highlights on paper. Dimensions height 256 mm x width 325 mm.

Two chairs one with armrests the other without armrests. Pen and brown ink with white highlights on paper. Signed R.E.H.Dimensions height 255 mm x width 352 mm.

Swing gate in general office. Pen and brown and black ink on paper. Dimensions height 230 mm x width 342 mm.

Mosaic frieze over entrance. Pen and brown ink with gold, green and burgundy highlights on paper. Dimensions height 228 mm x width 343 mm

Mosaic pavement at entrance. Mosiac includes the names of inventors and images of their inventions. Thus Morse, (inventor of the telegraph-images of telegraph wires) Stephenson, (Founder of the first company in the world that built locomotives, showing one locomotive) Fulton (inventor of the steam-driven boat) and Guttenburgh [sic] (Inventor of the printing press), with image of Mercury (God of trade and profit) in centre of design. Pen and brown ink with yellow, green and burgundy highlights on paper. Dimensions height 263 mm x width 323 mm

Mosaic pavement in general office. Mosaic between counter, screen and door and exterior wall and 2 windows. Pen and brown ink with yellow and pink highlights on paper. Dimensions height 246 mm x width 389 mm.

Counter and decorative screen with book and quill in ink bottle on counter top. Pen and brown ink with white highlights on paper. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 387 mm x width 266 mm.

Handle on swing door. Pen and brown ink on paper. Signed R.E.H.Dimensions height 235 mm x width 342 mm.

Stool, decorative. Pen and brown ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H.Dimensions height 322mm x width 265 mm.

Desk view from back showing lamp. Pen and brown ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 267 mm x width 322 mm.

Sofa, decorative, cured in shape with top hat, gloves and coat resting on seat. Pen and brown ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 267 mm x width 322 mm.

Screen (window), decorative, rectangular, placed between two Corinthian columns with 'B.W.&Co. inscribed in the middle of the screen in black ink. Pen and brown and black ink on paper with white highlights. Signed R.E.H. Dimensions height 325 mm x width 265 mm.

Floor Plan of B.W.&Co. shrow room and offices Snow Hill. London (Undated) Pen and black ink on tracing paper. Dimensions height 261 mm x width 357 mm.

Handle on Swing doors with 'PUSH' inscribed on it. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 177 mm x width 79 mm.

Counter and screen. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 253 mm x width 177 mm.

Corner of seat. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 139 mm x width 114 mm.

Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 253 mm x width 177 mm.

Image of X framed chair with armrests. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 190 mm x width 177 mm, bottom left side cut out.

Stool and back of desk. Pen and black ink on paper. Not signed by T.W.H. but would appear to be that persons work.Dimensions height 177 mm x width 253 mm.

Window Screen. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 160 mm x width 177 mm.

Swing gate. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 175 mm x width 177 mm.

Chair. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 177 mm x width 127 mm.

Desk, side view showing work top and draws at front. Pen and black ink on paper. Signed T.W.H. Dimensions height 177 mm x width 127 mm.

Screen design unfinished drawing, graphite on paper. Dimensions height 196 mm x width 168 mm.

c.1883-c.1900

1 file

Copyright assigned to the Wellcome Trust