Gateway At The Pleasaunce

Gateway at The Pleasaunce

This covered carriage gateway dates to around 1900 and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It stands at The Pleasaunce in Overstrand on Harbord Road.

The gateway is constructed of rendered brick with extensive banding created from narrow tiles. The gatepiers are pebbledashed brick with horizontal bands of tiles. The overthrow is also pebbledashed, featuring radiating tile bands. A canted lintel crowns the gate, fitted with turned timber rails within the arch head. The double-leaved gate comprises 28 panels in each leaf, with a wicket door set into the left-hand leaf. A small circular turret with a pyramidal tiled roof is attached to the left-hand pier. The tiled roof above the gateway is pyramidal in form. Two pyramidal buttresses support the piers. The rear of the gateway is rendered, painted, and displays similar banded decoration.

The design is inspired by Moorish architecture, reportedly based on a Moroccan fort. The elemental forms of the main structure create the effect of a Moroccan fortress entrance, an impression reinforced by the heavily battened doors and the small pedestrian wicket. From the interior, the heavily battered piers and arch produce distinctly Moorish proportions, whilst a subtly curved roof spans the archway. The gateway combines both whimsy and architectural substance, employing finely proportioned elemental shapes of outstanding quality.

The gateway was built as part of The Pleasaunce estate, commissioned by Lord and Lady Battersea from 1897 onwards. Lutyens also designed stables, cottages, a covered walk, a chapel-like writing and contemplation space overlooking the sea for the poetess Emily Lawless, and various other garden features and entrance gates for the property. Although the house was substantially complete by August 1898, Lutyens returned to make additions and alterations nearly every year from 1899 to 1909.

The gardens at The Pleasaunce are included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade II.