Summerhouse In Avonbank Garden

The summerhouse, now a brass rubbing centre, is located in the gardens of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It dates from the 18th century, with an addition made around 1870. The building is constructed from ashlar and rubble, and brick with ashlar dressings, topped with a graduated slate roof. It has a rectangular shape with an oval addition to the north and is designed in a classical style.

The southern part features end pilasters with entablature blocks, a top cornice, and a blocking course. There are five round-headed openings, with the central one serving as an entrance under a pediment, which is unglazed. The returns have square-headed openings, and the right return includes a tiled terrace with pilasters that show signs of capitals and an entablature, indicating a removed lean-to structure. Inside, the entrance to the northern part has a re-set six-fielded-panel door.

The northern section features a top ashlar entablature with a stylized triglyph frieze and paired timber brackets at the eaves. Fielded panels flank three curved windows, which have six-pane upper sashes over later panels. Originally, this building served as a garden structure in the grounds of Avonbank, built around 1700 and rebuilt in 1866, before being demolished in the 20th century.