The Cold Bath, In The Middle Of Speedwell Belt

The Cold Bath is a garden building located in the middle of Speedwell Belt, likely dating from the late 18th century or early 19th century. This red brick structure is faced with coursed rubble, primarily limestone, on the eastern side, featuring some ashlar details. It consists of a single wall, which appears to be the eastern wall of what may have originally been a loggia.

The western elevation has three bays, with the central bay being broader and containing three round-arched recesses. The arches have ashlar impost bands and keystones with vermiculated rustication, and each arch includes an ashlar console at the impost level. Above the arches is an applied band. The central bay is flanked by engaged antae, which also have ashlar impost bands and seem to have once supported arches that were perpendicular to the wall. The outer bays show patches of coursed rubble and were likely painted or stuccoed. There is evidence of returning walls at the outer edges, with rubble casing wrapping around them.

The eastern elevation also has three bays, with a broader central bay that features a fairly deep arched recess with a roughly cut keystone, surmounted by a semi-circular recess. Flanking this are round-arched niches, again with roughly cut keystones. Engaged antae, topped with ashlar volutes, are located within the angles formed by the projection of the central bay. Additionally, there are two carved bearded grotesque heads, approximately one metre high, which were discovered in a nearby pond and are currently in storage; their original placement on the structure is no longer clear.