Walls, Piers, Steps, Gates And Railings In Front Of Tanfield Hall

The walls, piers, steps, gates, and railings in front of Tanfield Hall date from the early 18th century. They are constructed from coursed squared sandstone with ashlar coping and feature ashlar piers. The stone steps lead to wrought iron gates, gatepiers, and railings. A retaining wall in front of the house supports tall spearhead railings and has projecting coping. The central flight of steps is swept at the lowest point, leading to high gates that include dog-bars and a scrolled half-rail below an intermediate bar, with a central panel featuring a leafy urn shape. An elaborate overthrow is adorned with a broad scrolled band that holds a central monogram roundel, and there is scrolled cresting raised at the center, with a similar roundel and vane at the ends above square wrought-iron piers that have similar ornamentation. Scrolled spandrel panels are located between these piers and the railings. Each section of the wall has central pilasters that support decorative iron panels, while the left and right ends of the wall rise into square, corniced stone piers. Adjacent to the wall on the left are two tall, square stone piers with pulvinated rustication, wide cornices, and ball finials.