Fort Henry Pleasure House And Flanking Retaining Walls And Parapet

Fort Henry is a small lakeside pleasure house or folly, likely built in the late 18th century. It is constructed of ashlar and features a single storey on the west side, with a lower basement facing the lake, which is accessed only from the outside. The central block consists of three bays, flanked by pavilions. The main block has central double doors set within a delicate ogival architrave topped with an acanthus finial, and it is flanked by sash windows that have deep reveals and gothick glazing bars, all connected by a continuous string course. The building has a moulded eaves cornice and a crenellated parapet adorned with ogee-headed merlons and pierced ogival finials at the corners.

The flanking pavilions are shorter and gabled, featuring a cornice and crenellated parapet with pierced finials. The windows in these pavilions are ogee-headed and topped with plume-like acanthus finials. Side doors have arched heads with traceried spandrels. The rear elevation includes two bays of sash windows similar to those at the front, along with two-centred arched windows in the pavilions, which are flanked by colonettes and feature moulded voussoirs and hoodmoulds. The basement contains four-centred arched doors and two pairs of two-centred arched windows. Although the interior has suffered fire damage, it remains exquisitely decorated with finely crafted painted wood and plaster panelling.

The flanking retaining walls that support the terrace have crenellated parapets and polygonal buttresses that end in acanthus finials. These walls return at a 90-degree angle and then curve in a quadrant plan, leading to altar-like curtails. These curtails are decorated with drapery swags and topped with four consoles and large acanthus finials.