Minute Books of the Board of Commissioners of the Office of Woods

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Chancery Lane,
London WC1
Extracts from the Minute Books of the Board of Commissioners of the Office of Woods, &c. relating to the building erected to house Babbage's First Difference Engine.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 7245: Tuesday 26th April 1831
Dorset and East Streets, New Road
Read a Letter from Mr. Decimus Burton, dated the 21st Instant, reporting as to the removal of Mr. Babbage's calculating engine &c. from its present situation to ground adjoining in Dorset and East Streets, New Road, and transmitting a general Plan descriptive of the locality.
Prepare report to the Treasury transmitting this report, and suggest that if approved of, there should be some arrangement as to the future occupancy of Mr. Babbage's House.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 7337, 423: Tuesday 10th May 1831
Mr Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Treasury Letter dated the 6th Inst, authorizing the removal of Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine from Lambeth to East Street, Manchester Square.
Desire Mr Decimus Burton to communicate with Mr. Babbage.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 7790: Tuesday 5th July 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read a Letter from Mr. Decimus Burton, dated the 1st Instant, inclosing Estimate &c. for building to be erected in East Street, Manchester Square for Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine, amounting to £2,934-13-0.
To be communicated to the Treasury for their further directions.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 7934: Friday 15th July 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read a Letter from Mr. Decimus Burton, dated 14th Instant, inclosing one from Mr. Babbage respecting the right of way required from Mr. Babbage in East Street and of the arrangement to which he has consented.
Proceed with the report to the Treasury.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 8365: Friday 9th September 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read a Treasury Letter, dated the 19th Instant, authorizing this Board to take a Lease of Mr. Babbage's Premises and vacant plot of ground in East Street, Manchester Square at the yearly rent of £135; but that their Lordships are not satisfied of the necessity of expending so large a sum as £2934-13-0 in constructing Buildings and works for the calculating Engine, and desiring to have an amended Plan and Estimate on a more economical scale.
Refer back to Mr. D. Burton.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 8488: Tuesday 27th September 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read Letter, dated 24th inst, from Mr. Decimus Burton, submitting a reduced estimate for the buildings proposed to be erected in East Street, Manchester Square, for the reception of Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine; and inclosing a letter from Mr. Babbage explaining the grounds upon which he considers that the extent of accommodation proposed to be provided is essential to the proper working of the machinery.
Prepare further report to the Treasury transmitting Mr. Burton's Estimate and Mr. Babbage's explanations for their Lordships consideration.

Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 8835, 556: Friday 4th November 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read a Treasury Letter, dated the 31st Ulto authorizing erection of buildings in East Street, Manchester Square, for Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine, at the estimated expense of £2598-1-0.
Write to the Surveyor General [of Works], communicating the necessary information.
Write to Mr. Decimus Burton.
Ref: CRES25/35: Minute No. 8903, 562: Friday 11th November 1831
East Street, Manchester Square
Read a Treasury Warrant, dated the 9th Instant, authorizing this Board to take a Lease of Mr. C. Babbage's Premises in East Street, Manchester Square.
Instruct Solicitors to confer with Mr. Babbage's Solicitor, and to prepare Lease. (Immediate).
Ref: CRES25/36: Minute No. 9511: Tuesday 17th January 1832
Dorset Street, Portman Square
Read a Letter from the Solicitors, dated the 16th Inst. transmitting Lease from Charles Babbage Esqre. of Ground, Messuage and Premises near Dorset Street, Portman Square.
Lease to be executed and inrolled.
Ref: CRES25/36: Minute No. 265: Tuesday 3rd April 1832
Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Letter from Mr. D. Burton dated 29th Ulto certifying that Messrs. Cubitt may be paid further Instalments of £500 and £140 on account of their Contract for Buildings erecting in East Street, Manchester Square for Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine.
Prepare Draft.
Ref: CRES25/36: Minute No. 327: Friday 6th April 1832
Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Letter from Mr. D. Burton, dated the 5th Inst. inclosing Mr. Neeves Account for superintending the erection of the Building in East Street, to contain Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine.
Prepare Draft.
Ref: CRES25/36: Minute No. 762, 101: Friday 11th May 1832
Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Treasury Letter, dated the 9th Instant, authorizing payment of further sums due for the erection of Buildings to contain Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine in East Street, Manchester Square, amounting to £683-9-0.
Prepare Draft.
Ref: CRES25/36: Minute No. 1268: Friday 29th June 1832
Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Letter from Mr. D. Burton, dated the 27th Inst. inclosing Messrs Cubitts Account for buildings erected in East Street, Manchester Square, for Mr. Babbage's calculating engine, amounting to £395-12-10. Also the Account of the Clerk of the Works amounting to £7-13-9.
Apply to the Treasury for the money voted for this service.
Ref: CRES25/38: Minute No. 679 TR 54: Tuesday 18th February 1834
Mr. Babbage's Calculating Engine
Read a Treasury Letter dated the 14th instant inclosing one from Mr. C. Babbage relative to the removal of the Calculating Engine to East Street, and desiring that as their Lordships propose to place the Building under the charge of this Department, that a report may be made as to the arrangements which ought to be made for warming the Building &c.
Write to the Treasury stating that these expenses will form a contingent account in the same manner as with other Public Offices and Departments generally.
Ref: CRES25/50: Minute No. 4560: Tuesday 8th November 1842
Premises for the reception of Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine
Read a Treasury Letter dated 7th Instant requesting to be informed of the Particulars of the Lease of the House in East Street, Marylebone for the reception of Mr Babbage Calculating Machine.
Prepare Report to the Treasury giving the desired information.
Ref: CRES25/50: Minute No. 5557: Friday 23rd December 1842
Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine
Read a Treasury Letter dated 21st Instant with instructions for removing Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine from the Premises in East Street to any place of Security the Board may be able to provide and for Reletting the Premises.
Notes in Margin: done 29th December: Acquaint Mr Babbage
done 30th December: Refer to Mr Cox
Ref: CRES25/51: Minute No. 5857, 2107: Friday 6th January 1843
Premises in East Street, Marylebone
Read a Letter dated 4th Instant from Mr. C. Babbage enquiring whether he may be allowed to purchase a Tool called a "Sliding Rest".
Enquire of Mr. Babbage the original cost and what, is his opinion of the present value.
Note in Margin: done 9th January
Ref: CRES25/51: Minute No. 6038: 2nd June 1843
Read a Treasury Letter dated 21st December last respecting the removal of Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine, the Government having determined to abandon its completion.
Read also Mr Cox's report of the 5th January 1843 suggesting that the rooms in the Basement of Gwyder House, Whitehall will contain the Machine, &c. in question.
Write to Mr. Babbage to the effect above written, and to Mr Chawner.
Note in Margin: Done 5th June
Ref: CRES25/52: Minute No 2755,2107: Friday 21st July 1843
Read a Statement dated 27th inst. submitted by Mr. Cox of the account Mr Babbage should be required to pay for the old Materials intended to be sold to him on the removal of his Calculating Machine. Vizt £216-10-2
Transmit Mr. Babbage a copy of the valuation of the Material he desires to have, and request he will pay the amount, £216-10-2 to Mr. Walker the Cashier of this Department.
Note in Margin: done 24th July
Desire Mr. Cox will deliver the several articles to Mr. Babbage.
Note in Margin: done 24th July
Ref: CRES25/52: Minute No. 2767: Tuesday 25th July 1843
Read the Architect's Report of Survey of Premises No. 30 East side of East Street Manchester Sq^re, and back Premises, with a view to Mr Babbage retaining a portion thereof, lately occupied for his Calculating machine, in which said Report they recommend that Mr. Babbage should be treated with for letting to him the whole of the fireproof building and to have such an inclosure from the Yard west thereof as would enable an altered way to be made to the Basement, &c., and the accessories mentioned therein, on his paying the expense of the alterations and an annual rent of £35 upon a Lease of 7, 14 or 21 years.
Make a proposal to Mr. Babbage accordingly.

References

Surveyor General of Woods and Forests and successors: Minute Books