Former Entrance Gates And Piers To Spring Grove House (Now West Thames College)

The former entrance gates and piers, now part of West Thames College, date from circa 1894 and were originally part of the late Victorian embellishment of Spring Grove House, commissioned by soap magnate Andrew Pears. William Catherwood served as the executive architect for alterations to the house between 1892 and 1894.

The gates are made of elaborate wrought iron and are set between banded brick piers with short lengths of walling on either side. The double gates feature an elaborate scrolled top, cast iron cartouches to the centres, decorative scrolled bottoms, and a baluster finial to the central post. The square hollow piers match the railings and are topped with Ionic capitals. Flanking doors, with matching overthrows, are also present. The outer piers are constructed of red brick with Portland stone bases, banding, and capitals. Curved, upswept sections of walling are finished with Portland stone coping. These gates are highly elaborate and represent the fashionable Louis XV style of the time, as described in 'Spring Grove House: A History' by Peter Rowlands (2001).