Double Terrace To South Front Of Harewood House Including Retaining Walls And Steps, Flower Bed Surrounds, Fountains, Garden Ornaments And Sculptures

Double terrace to the south front of Harewood House, including retaining walls, steps, flower bed surrounds, fountains, garden ornaments and sculptures.

This ornamental garden scheme was designed in 1847-48 by Sir Charles Barry and Major Nesfield for the 3rd Earl of Harewood, with construction supervised by Robert Banks. The terraces are constructed primarily of locally-quarried millstone grit, with fountain basins in Rousham Hill stone from Oxfordshire, Bath stone urns, and carved freestone and lead sculptures.

The layout comprises two levels of rectangular terraces, walled on three sides. The lower terrace features finely-cut ashlar retaining walls with plinth, channelled pilasters and raised rectangular and triangular panels. At each end, Imperial staircases lead from ground to terrace level, with balustraded parapets featuring vase-shaped balusters and three projecting semicircular balconies.

The lower terrace is arranged formally around a central large square fountain with semicircular projections to each face. The original fountain sculpture has been replaced by a 9-foot bronze statue of Orpheus by Astrid Zydower, created around 1984, and is surrounded by four carved stone acorn-like urns on square plinths. On either side are raised flower beds with curved stone coping, each set with four handled and covered urns surrounding a smaller fountain with a star-like plan (triangular projections to each face), featuring a sculptured base and scalloped bowl with a merman blowing a shell. Curved stone benches at each end have raised-and-fielded panels with square piers surmounted by sculptures; those at the west end depict dancing boys and girls and are inscribed "BAURSCHEIT IFA 1725".

The upper terrace features finely-channelled stone retaining walls with balustraded parapet, regularly-spaced square piers, and three single flights of stone steps with low coped walls terminating in square piers. The terrace terminates at east and west in stone benches finely carved with guilloche ornament. Approaching the double flight of stairs to the south entrance of the house are two pairs of 18th-century carved stone sphinxes by Theakstone, relocated by Barry from the north front. These are followed by a line of four carved stone vases on plinths with a flight of three steps between them at the base of the main stair, two lead sculptures to each side, four finely-carved flower vases on plinths, and four tall statues of ladies on plinths set across the front.

The architectural and sculptured features throughout are striking and executed with remarkable detail. The terraces are finely designed, and the parterre (partially restored to Nesfield's original design) is considered one of the finest examples of his work. From the terraces there are magnificent views across the landscaped park designed by Capability Brown.