Soane kept a notebook during the building of Number 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, now his Museum. We will be publishing the entries day by day to mark the 200th anniversary of this build - follow this link for more details.
Aug. 3 Began to trench for the back front wall of house
Aug. 3 Called on Mr Domville with Mr Tyndale, met Mr Long and settled for me to build the party wall and leave a small ch[imne]y of about 1’10’’ in the front Chamber and another in the Attic, and also to give up the site of the half party and to be allowed £160. Signed a memorandum to that effect as did Mr. Long on the part of Mr. Moysey.
The first entry, for Monday August 3rd, refers to the digging of a trench for the foundations for the main back wall of the house – the beginning of construction proper. Soane is still at this point completing the legal details of the rebuilding – a theme that will run throughout his diary and beyond. The reference to the chimney refers to the front room on the Chamber, or second, floor.