Forecourt Gateway And Screen At Harlaxton Manor

The forecourt gateway and screen at Harlaxton Manor were built between 1840 and 1854, likely designed by Gregory Gregory in collaboration with William Burn and David Bryce. Constructed from ashlar, the structure features bronze sculptures added around 1938. It showcases a blend of Jacobean and Baroque Revival styles.

The central gateway is flanked by double wrought-iron gates, with square lodges on each side. Each lodge has a plinth and a heavy plain cornice, featuring a heavily rusticated round arched doorway with a wrought-iron gate. Above this, there is a corniced cruciform pedestal on a stepped base. Further out, larger square lodges rise in two stages, adorned with elaborate strapwork angle pilasters. Above a cornice, diagonally set pedestals support a sarcophagus and a bronze lion with prey. The lower stage of these lodges has a round opening, while the upper stage has a square one with projecting surrounds. The inner faces include doorways with round openings above.

Beyond the lodges, the screen walls have a curved central section, with a plinth, round arched arcade, square pedestals, and moulded coping. This gateway and screen are significant architectural features of Harlaxton Manor, notable for their innovative combination of Jacobean Revival style and Baroque elements.