The designs that follow were preceded by two entries in one of Soane's sketchbooks (see 'Downhill' 1780-1, SM volume 80, 19 verso, 20 verso).  cross reference needed  These are: (1)  a sketch design for a porch dated 6 October 1780 and (2) a rough survey plan of the ground floor also dated 6 October 1780. The plan shows a house about 60 feet wide by 50 feet deep with a canted bay on the back and front. There are six rooms and a stair and on the left-hand side, kitchen, laundry and servants' hall.  

Burdon had met Soane in Italy and was anxious to help his architect friend but though a recently made partner in the family business (Exchange Bank, Newcastle) his resources were limited and his father still alive and living at Castle Eden (G.Darley, John Soane, an accidental Romantic, 1999, p.61).  Soane also made a design for stables for Castle Eden but like the villa neither was executed though he did add a porch to the house built c.1760 by William Newton of Newcastle

1 Elevation of five-bay, two-storey, porticoed house with single storey pavilion wings and two variant plans; elevation of five-bay, two-storey house with single storey portico without pediment and plan; perspective detail of roman tiles; (verso) elevation similar the first one but with the details of the centre bays inked out, and plan; unidentified detail

2 Plan and elevation close to the 'No.3' of the variant designs of drawing 1 and (verso) rough unrelated plans

3 Plan with some pencil amendments and front elevation