Bowling Green House and Two Urns on Pedestals 5m to the south-east and north-east

Bowling Green House and Two Urns on Pedestals

Bowling Green House is a single-storey pavilion of pale yellow brick laid in Flemish bond, with colour-washed plaster render to the east elevation and stone dressings elsewhere. It has a hipped, tiled roof. The building is rectangular in plan with smaller square wings projecting to the north and south.

The principal east elevation faces the bowling green and is approached by three stone steps. It features a portico of six painted timber Tuscan columns on moulded stone bases. Above rises a Roman Doric entablature decorated with triglyph and guttae, with a moulded cornice supporting a balustrade. The six piers of the balustrade are each topped with late 19th or early 20th-century replica urns, probably by Barwell and Co. Eagle Foundry. At either end of the façade are squared pilasters, connected to the end portico columns by low balustrades. The centrepiece is a central double-leaf eight-panel timber door with a pedimented doorcase and moulded brackets. Flanking the entrance are two six-over-nine sash windows in moulded timber frames, between which sit moulded capitals supporting the joists of the coffered portico ceiling, decorated with a Greek key motif. The stone floor of the open porch is inlaid with small black diamond-shaped tiles.

The west elevation of exposed brick faces Oldpark Water and features cross-vaulted arched arcading on square brick piers with stone dressings. The five openings have enlarged stone voussoirs linked by a plain stone string course. The central opening is larger than the others. A plain entablature with projecting cornice is surmounted by a parapet with projecting piers. At the building's centre is a double-leaf eight-panel timber door with a doorcase topped by a slightly projecting flat hood on moulded brackets.

The low hipped wings at north and south are constructed of brick on coursed stone plinths. The south wing has two panelled doors with straight segmental brick heads, leading to privies. The north wing has a central arched doorway with a 20th-century thin-planked door, flanked by rectangular niches.

The interior walls feature decorative plaster panels, dado and cornices, between which hang swags with shell and ribbon motifs. At the south end is an ornate marble chimney-piece with a pedimented surround decorated with brackets, roses and panels displaying swags and foliate designs. Above it sits a richly decorated panel with a central basket of flowers. At the north end is a decorative doorcase said to be a later insertion, with Corinthian columns, swags joined by a human face and putti on the projecting pediment. The rear interior wall has a doorcase with a flat hood supported on moulded brackets. The floor is laid with stone flags and inlaid black tiles.

The Two Urns

Two lead urns stand approximately 2 metres high to the south-east and north-east of Bowling Green House. Both are copies after Pearce and Cibber, with foliate decoration to the base of the main body and finial, and egg and dart decoration to the rim. Each rests on a Portland or Bath stone plinth comprising a moulded base, a die with panels and cornice.

The north-east urn bears bas-relief scenes depicting Venus in a sea chariot drawn by dolphins and a cupid. Venus is accompanied by sea gods and goddesses, some with hippocamp feet carrying conch shells, oars and water plants. The furthest relief shows a male and female water deity with their child.

The south-east urn displays a relief scene showing a procession of nymphs, fauns, putti and Bacchus on a chariot drawn by leopards with a winged cupid as driver. A second relief depicts a maenad playing a triangle and five cupids playing with a goat. Beyond, Silenus is supported by two revellers. A maenad plays a pipe accompanied by two females, with two satyrs and three cherubs completing the composition.