The Conservatory And Attached Wall, Steps And Urns

The Conservatory, along with its attached wall, steps, and urns, was built around 1824 by Robert Abraham. It features ashlar and cast iron construction and is oriented east-west, facing south, with a circular central bay. The structure is one storey high, consisting of a 5-bay central block and 3-bay end blocks, all adorned with panelled pilasters and bracketed cornices. These blocks are connected by set-back 8-bay loggias that have fluted columns. The central bay is tripartite and bows outward, with all bays being glazed. The end bays feature fanlights with radiating glazing bars. The conservatory is topped with seven glazed domes that have decorative cast iron glazing bars and pineapple finials, with the central dome being significantly larger and equipped with a louvre.

Inside, the central bay contains a circular pool. A low retaining wall is attached to the left and sweeps around to the front, where it ends with a flight of stone steps flanked by cast iron urns. There are urns in front of each loggia and one on a stone pedestal at the right end of the conservatory. This structure is part of the important garden layout at Alton Towers, which is recognized at Grade I on the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England Gardens Register.