Garden Walls, Piers, Statues, And Steps To The South Of Renishaw Hall

SK 4378 12/105

PARISH OF ECKINGTON RENISHAW PARK Garden walls, piers, statues, and steps to the south of Renishaw Hall

GV II

Garden walls, steps, statues and fountains in formal garden laid out from 1879 by Sir George Sitwell. Walls and steps of ashlar coal measures sandstone, retaining and linking three different garden levels. The lowest flight of steps, at the south end of the garden are of limestone. The retaining wall to the first level. 55 metres to the south of Renishaw Hall incorporates three flights of steps, those to the west end dog-legged, and with square piers supporting ball-finials. The-principal flight lies on the central axis to the garden, with the steps linking the first and second levels, and becoming wider as they descend. The wall is terminated at the steps of low ashlar piers, square on plan. The piers support full size statues of Neptune and Diana, each with accompanying dog. The third flight of steps is wholly contained within the upper level, with return walls flanking the steps. At the head of the steps, two further low piers, each supporting a narrow obelisk standing on a square base. The retaining wall is 2 metres high, and is divided into twelve bays by shallow pilasters. The wall rises from a moulded plinth and has a moulded flat coping. The wall is terminated at its eastern end by a square ashlar pier, which supports a white marble status of a male. A lower wall continues to the east, with a further two sets of steps, the north easterly set terminating in low piers carrying tall obeliskes, with acorn finials. To the west side of the second level, and adjoining the upper wall, a buttressed retaining wall supports an earlier terrace. The wall has eight shallow stepped buttresses, and plain chamfered coping. Mid-way along the coping, a full-size classical bust of a male, set on a low tapered pedestal. Rising from the southern end of the retaining wall, a plain flight of steps, with two free-standing marble Corinthian capitals at the top. The southern end of the wall is linked to the retaining wall of the second garden level, which is one metre high, and with a plain coping, running parallel to the upper wall. An off centre flight of semi-circular steps link the second and the third levels and has a decorative circular paved area at its upper level. The steps and paving have been attributed to Sir Edwin Lutyens. As the junction of sandstone retaining wall, and the limestone steps are low square ashlar limestone piers, square on plan, each supporting full-size marble statue, known together as 'the two Giants'. The garden at Renishaw is included in the Gardens Register for Derbyshire at Grade , item no.

Listing NGR: SK4378578526