Gate and gate piers to the north of The Grand Descent at Shrubland Hall

The gate and gate piers located to the north of The Grand Descent at Shrubland Hall are ornamental features likely dating from the third quarter of the 19th century. They are constructed from gault brick laid in stretcher bond and wrought iron, which is painted green.

The gates are situated at the edge of the pleasure grounds. They are highly decorative, featuring an overthrow that incorporates the wheatsheaf and wings from the Middleton family’s coat of arms, along with ribbon end and rolled nib scrolls adorned with waterleaves. The design of the gates is divided into two sections. The upper part includes vertical elements with foliate decoration at both the top and bottom, and a row of circles with Tudor roses at the intersections across the middle. The lower part has uprights that slant diagonally, embellished with ribbon end and rolled nib scrolls, and twisted arrowheads. The lock rail displays a row of horizontal ovals with Tudor roses at the intersections, and the lower section mirrors the diagonal uprights described earlier. Below, the dograil features short uprights alternating with banded decoration and scrolls.

The tall, square, panelled gate piers are topped with two-stepped caps and elongated, flat-topped pyramidal finials, finished in cement render. Flanking the gates, the railings include a dograil and twisted arrowheads on the uprights, extending approximately 2 meters. They ramp up to the main gate piers and end in shorter, square piers also finished in cement render. The pier on the east side is topped with a large ball finial, while the finial on the west side has been lost.