Propylaea

Propylaea, constructed between 1811 and 1813, was designed by Thomas Harrison of Chester. It is built of ashlar Manley sandstone with a lead roof and demonstrates group value. The structure is a central gateway flanked by colonnades connecting to pavilions.

The west front features a tetrastyle amphiprostyle gateway, meaning it has two rows of Greek Doric columns, both facing outward. These columns are monolithic, fluted on their upper bodies, and faceted below. They sit on abaci, with wider spacing between the columns in the centre. Above the columns is a Doric entablature, incorporating metopes, guttae, and mutules, which runs around the gateway. A panelled attic storey sits above, topped by a raised tablet. A dividing wall behind the gateway incorporates a full-height central gateway, with smaller pedestrian entrances on either side and sunken panels with moulded surrounds above these. Side pavilions feature blank walls with mouldings along the tops, terminating in gateways with two fluted Doric columns centrally placed and antae at the corners. Above are Doric entablatures, and pediments with blank tympanums. Each pavilion has a wider opening between the central columns.

The east front has a distyle gateway with antae, similarly monolithic with fluted upper bodies and faceted bases. It includes a panelled attic, raised tablet, and dividing wall with gateways and panels similar to the west front. One-bay colonnades flank the gateway, supported by antae, linking to portico wings. These wings are tetrastyle with a second, distyle-in-antis phalanx of columns behind, all monolithic, with wider spacing in the centre. An entablature supports a pediment with a blank tympanum. Stone coved ceilings are found within the Gateway, colonnades and wing structures. Rectangular pedestals are present at the apex and lower angles of the pediments. According to J Mordaunt Crook, the Propylaea combines inspiration from the Temple of Philip at Delos and the Temple of Augustus at Athens, with the qualities of the Sublime and Picturesque.