Pope'S Grotto In Grounds Of St Catherine'S High School

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TQ 1672 22/2 2.9.52

CROSS DEEP (east side) Pope's Grotto in grounds of St Catherine's High School

II*

Grotto with rusticated arched entrance facing river, and running under the road to what was part of Pope's Estate on the other side and is now the school playing fields (passage lengthened when road widened C19-C20). Long passage with two "chapels" one on either side of entrance. Lined with cement in which are set rocks, stones, stalactites (said to have come from Wookey Hole in Somerset) etc. and the cement worked to intimate rough rocks.

There are a few bits of sculpture (statues, etc not good) in the "chapels" The decorations which lined the grotto have long since gone and the grotto is dark and gloomy though dry. The whole is well looked after and preserved by the Sisters. The school and convent stand on the site of Pope's House above the entrance to the Grotto.

(Also a smaller grotto in the grounds probably of similar origin.) '

Listing NGR: TQ1604072761