Thomas Cubitt &
Downing College, Cambridge

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

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].
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.