Se Garden Terrace At Moor Close, Including Steps, Walls, Pools, Colonnades And Gazebos

BINFIELD

SU87SW TERRACE ROAD SOUTH 674-1/11/98 (East side (off)) SE garden terrace at Moor Close, inc steps, walls, pools, colonnades & gazebos

GV II

Part of larger garden at Moor Close (qv). Terrace on several levels, with steps, walls, pools, colonnades and 2 gazebos on south-east side. 1911, by Oliver Hill. MATERIALS: Red brick, clay tiles and tile slips, pebbles and York stone. EXTERIOR: In end section former rectangular lily pool with stone panelled fountain on brick base in centre, with semicircular ends. Stone columns on north-east side on pedestals on brick retaining wall. Originally 5 columns, only 3 now survive with heads missing, moulded bases. On south-west side brick retaining wall 6-bays long with opening in centre with 5 shallow stone steps leading out. Stone Italianate balustrade originally on top of the wall, now only boxes remain. Tall brick pillars at ends with moulded stone caps. Central flight of 5 shallow stone steps lead to grassed terrace with surrounding stone paving and further flight of 7 steps at north-west end lead to bridge (qv). Steps are in area enclosed by brick screen walls with an opening on either side dressed with stone. On south-west side of grassed terrace and at higher level, are 2 gazebos linked by colonnade of 4 columns with moulded heads and bases and with large wooden lintels. Gazebos are identical and are of brick and stone with old tile pyramidal roofs, each has square on plan, having stone rusticated quoins with moulded bases, moulded stone architrave and cornice, semicircular niche at rear with stone pilasters and semicircular head, rectangular opening with stone architrave and sill facing terrace, 2 wider openings facing each other in stone surrounds with semicircular moulded pediments. Colonnade approached by 2 sweeping, semicircular flights, each of 15 moulded stone steps. Garden was semi derelict when surveyed. (Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest: Part 3: Berkshire).