Terrace Walls And Steps, And Heraldic Beasts, To South Of Bowes Museum

The terrace walls and steps, along with heraldic beasts, located to the south of Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, were built around 1885 by J Pellechet for John Bowes. Constructed from ashlar, the rusticated walls support the terrace that runs the full length of the museum's main building, featuring two flights of side steps at each end. Similar retaining walls are found behind the second flights of steps. The front wall includes a blind arcade, with end and central arches leading to niches that are flanked by shallow stepped pilasters. All arches feature keyed heads and channelled voussoirs. The keys extend through the entablature, which supports a balustrade made of turned balusters and shallow piers, topped with corniced coping. There are matching balustrades at the front and blind end return balustrades on the steps. Approximately 2 meters behind the balustrade, there are two heraldic beasts, each about one meter high, holding shields.