Walls Steps And Gazebos To South West Of Forecourt At Harlaxton Manor

The walls, steps, and gazebos located to the south-west of the forecourt at Harlaxton Manor were constructed between 1838 and 1854, likely designed by William Burn for Gregory Gregory. These structures are made of ashlar and feature sculptures in Coade stone, showcasing a Renaissance Revival style.

The terrace wall along the south-west side of the forecourt includes a short flight of steps flanked by pedestals topped with lion sculptures, leading to a square platform surrounded by balustrade walls and strapwork pedestals that hold urns. From this platform, a polygonal staircase ascends between balustrades adorned with strapwork pedestals and urns, leading to a gateway with wrought-iron gates. The square gatepiers are accented with rusticated corner pilasters and topped with figures of children and dogs.

On either side of the terrace wall, there is plain coping with intermediate pedestals featuring moulded flat caps and urns. The buttressed north-west terrace wall has raised sections at each end with pilasters and volutes, leading to a gazebo. The square gazebos are single-storey structures with a basement, topped with slated square ogee domes and finials. They feature stepped angle buttresses, a cornice, corner pedestals with finials, and blind dormers with rusticated round arches and finials.

Three sides of the gazebos have unglazed 12-light cross mullioned windows, while the inner side has a similar window with a doorcase in front, complete with a moulded lintel, half-round pediment, and three finials. The south-west side includes an off-centre viewing point flanked by large volutes, and to its left, there is a triple gateway with wrought-iron gates and an overthrow, along with square piers topped with cornices. The south-east side features a low screen wall with openings and two pairs of steps, as well as a round-arched blind arcade, moulded coping, and pedestals with ball finials.

These structures are part of the Harlaxton Manor Gardens, which are registered at grade II*.