LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| PLATES | ||
|---|---|---|
| PLATE | ||
| I. | THE CHIEF WORKS OF WREN | [ Frontispiece] |
| FACING PAGE | ||
| II. | WREN AS A MAN OF FORTY | [ 50] |
| III. | WREN’S PLAN OF LONDON | [ 54] |
| IV. | THE WELBECK PORTRAIT | [ 60] |
| V. | BUST BY EDWARD PEARCE AT THE ASHMOLEAN | [ 70] |
| VI. | THE WEST FRONT OF ST. PAUL’S | [ 72] |
| VII. | ST. PAUL’S UNDER THE DOME | [ 74] |
| VIII. | ST. STEPHEN’S WALBROOK | [ 88] |
| IX. | CHELSEA HOSPITAL: THE MAIN PORTICO | [ 98] |
| X. | HAMPTON COURT: WREN’S TWO FRONTS | [ 100] |
| XI. | GREENWICH HOSPITAL AND ITS TWO DOMES | [ 102] |
| XII. | TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE: RIVER FRONT | [ 108] |
| XIII. | THE WADHAM PORTRAIT OF WREN | [ 114] |
| XIV. | THE ST. PAUL’S DEANERY PORTRAIT | [ 120] |
| XV. | THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CHIAROSCURO ENGRAVING | [ 126] |
| XVI. | WREN MEDAL AT WADHAM COLLEGE | [ 148] |
| IN THE TEXT | ||
| PAGE | ||
| ST. PETER’S | [ xv], [xvi] | |
| ST. AUGUSTIN’S | [ 55] | |
| ST. MARTIN’S AND ST. PAUL’S | [ 56] | |
| THE SECOND DESIGN FOR ST. PAUL’S | [ 64] | |
| PLAN OF THE “REJECTED DESIGN” | [ 66] | |
| WEST ELEVATION OF THE “WARRANT DESIGN” | [ 68] | |
| PLAN OF ST. PAUL’S AS BUILT | [ 72] | |
| ST. VEDAST | [ 79] | |
| ST. ALBAN | [ 80] | |
| ST. DUNSTAN’S | [ 82] | |
| ST. MAGNUS | [ 85] | |
| ST. MARGARET’S PATTENS | [ 86] | |
| ST. BRIDE’S | [ 87] | |
| ST. MILDRED, BREAD STREET | [ 91] | |
| ST. BRIDE’S | [ 92] | |
| ST. MARY-LE-BOW | [ 146] | |
ST PETER’S
ST PETER’S
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN
SCIENTIST, SCHOLAR, AND ARCHITECT
CHAPTER I
PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD
On the 20th October, 1632, Christopher Wren was born in the Rectory at East Knoyle in Wiltshire. His father, also Dr. Christopher Wren, is said to have descended from an ancient English family of Danish origin which settled in the county of Durham; but I can find no authority for the Danish story except Parentalia.
In J. W. Rylands’ Records of Wroxall Abbey there is a pedigree which shows Sir Christopher’s grandfather, Francis Wren, Citizen and Mercer of London, who lived from 1552 to 1624. His father was Cuthbert and his grandfather William Wren, of Sherborn House, Durham, who died in 1539. This William is described as brother to a Christopher Wren, of Wythebroke, Warwick, who died in 1542, but the authority is doubtful. If it is accurate, however, it may be an added reason for Sir Christopher’s purchase of the Warwickshire estate of Wroxall for his son, who settled down there as a country gentleman.