Clumber Cascade, Main Lake, Clumber Park

An ornamental cascade and weir, constructed c.1763-65, probably by Stephen Wright for the First Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme, with late C18 and early C19 alterations.

MATRERIALS AND PLAN: the cascade is set within Clumber Park (Registered at Grade I, NHLE entry 1001079) and is located approximately 120m north-east of Clumber Bridge (Grade II, NHLE entry 1045732) and 25m west of The Grotto (Grade II, NHLE entry 1045034). The cascade is orientated on a roughly north-east to south-west axis and is formed of a 37m long curvilinear stone bank bisected by an artificial island, approximately 20m long and 9m wide. It is constructed of limestone sourced from Roche Abbey and Cresswell Crags.

DESCRIPTION: the cascade is composed of a foundation of individual blocks of roughly squared limestone with larger blocks of weathered limestone placed on top, giving the structure a naturalistic appearance and an average height of approximately 1.5m. In the centre of the structure there is an artificial island also formed out of rocks but covered on its surface with earth and vegetation. A short rocky promontory extends from the main cascade close to the western side of the island.