Walls, Gate Piers, Gates And Pavillions Surrounding The Forecourt At Mere Hall

HANBURY CP BROUGHTON GREEN SO 96 SE 4/77 (15/14A) Walls, gate piers, gates and pavilions surrounding 29.12.52 the forecourt at Mere Hall GV II

Walls, gate piers, gates and pavilions. c1700. Red brick with sandstone ashlar dressings. Wall varies between eight and four feet high and encloses space of approximately 1500 square yards. Taller part has recessed panels; section facing house forms base to cast iron railings interrupted by openwork piers at about two yard intervals. Central gateway has square brick piers with moulded stone cappings and ball finials; ornate cast iron gate has foliated detail. At the outer corners are square pavilions; both pavilions have fishscale tiled ogee cupolas surmounted by cast iron weathervanes; the sides facing the forecourt are open and the upper parts are filled by wooden semi-circular arched panels with central moulded pendants; the north elevations have 24-pane sash windows with moulded architraves; inside the pavilions are re-used Jacobean benches. The gates are no longer used as the main entrance which is now at the rear of the building. The layout of the forecourt is an interesting example of the Queen Anne period, and is of considerable compositional value to the front elevation of Mere Hall (qv). (VCH 3 (ii), p 373).

Listing NGR: SO9522561870