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Royal College of Music

Royal College of Music: Building plans

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 1249 Plans

Held at: Royal College of Music

Title: Royal College of Music: Building plans

Date(s): 1894-1990

Level of description: sub-fonds

Extent: 26 rolls

Name of creator(s): Royal College of Music

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Since the opening of the Royal College of Music (RCM) building in 1894, the College has undergone a series of extensions and additions. Of particular note are the extension block, constructed 1963-1964, and officially opened in November 1965, and the new Dining Room, Library, and Britten Opera Theatre designed by the Casson Condor Partnership, 1982-1986. The bulk of the plans held by the RCM pertain to this latter scheme, but also represented are drawings by Norman and Dawbarn of the Concert Hall, existing floor plans and plans of extensions to the RCM, squash court [proposed but never built], vault practice rooms and Parry Opera Theatre, opera school and students' recreation room, 1960-1973; a new Opera School staircase by Building Design Workshop North West, 1979; the refurbishment of the RCM Concert Hall by the Essex Goodman Design Company, 1990.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Council of the Royal College of Music, 1894-1990, including floor plans of College c1894; plans of Concert Hall organ by Harrison and Harrison, 1958; Concert Hall (existing), 1960; extensions to the college, 1962; floor plans of College (existing), 1963; lifts, kitchen, squash court [proposed but never built], fire alarms and emergency lighting, electrical installations, 1961-1985; Opera School and Students' Recreation Room, 1970-1973; additional vault Practice Rooms, 1972; alterations to the Parry Theatre, 1973; Opera School staircase, 1979; Dining Room, 1982-1983; Library, 1984; Britten Opera Theatre, 1984-1986; Concert Hall refurbishment, 1990.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in series as given in scope and content.

Conditions governing access:

The release of any material will be at the College's sole discretion to bona fide researchers who supply a letter which states their credentials and their relationship (e.g. biographer, genealogist, family member) to the individual concerned and which defines clearly the purpose of their research. Access to non-confidential material will normally be available at the College's discretion and under the supervision of library staff. Direct access to confidential records containing personal or private information will not normally be automatically granted until the death of the correspondents can be reliably established, or 25 years after their creation, whichever is later. Permission of the use of records for aggregate research (e.g. statistical data) will normally be granted provided that such research does not identify individuals. Access to other college records, including minutes and correspondence will normally be granted at the College's discretion.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Researchers should apply to the Archivist for further information on these records.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Internal accumulation by the RCM during the course of business.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

RCM also holds papers of the Building Committee, 1888-1894 (ref: 0037), 1981-1986 (ref: 1170); correspondence relating to Library alterations, 1984-1987 (ref: 1120); papers, plans, photographs and correspondence relating to building extensions, 1962-1963 (ref: 1144); report by Norman and Dawbarn on condition of 1894 RCM building interior, 1972 (ref: 1163); building consultants' meetings minutes, 1982-1983 (ref: 1168); papers and reports on Opera Theatre, 1984-1988 (1155-1160); papers on completion of Library works, 1984 (1161); specification for refurbishment of Concert Hall, 1993 (1223).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: The Royal College of Music: a centenary record by H C Coles and John Cruft (Prince Consort Foundation, London, 1982).