Garden Walls And Features Of The Terraced Garden (Including Ivy Cottage) Approximately 30 Metres North Of Groombridge Place

TQ 53 37 SPELDHURST GROOMBRIDGE HILL (off east side), OLD GROOMBRIDGE 16/506 Garden walls and features of the terraced garden (including 20.10.54 Ivy Cottage) approx 30m north of Groombridge Place GV I

Formal garden north of Groombridge Place was probably laid out in the second half of the C17 and has had several changes since. Garden is terraced and enclosed on 3 sides (north, west and east) by tall walls of various builds. Lowest section the west wall and a lot of the east wall is brick. Rest of the west wall is sandstone, the lower section is coursed whilst the upper section is more rubbley. The top end wall (north) of large blocks of sandstone, part topped with brick, and has large stone buttresses inside. It includes a central gateway with square section piers and ball finials. The terraces are revetted with sandstone and paths rise in a series of sandstone steps. Gardens include various garden features like stone urns and notably, on the top terrace, a probably C18 fountain and a sundial with sandstone baluster- like stem and a brass dial inscribed with the name of Nathaniel Witham of London with the date 1716. Ivy Cottage on the west side has been made by enlarging a late C17 garden pavilion. it is now a 2-room plan cottage facing west, C19 in date, renovated circa 1980. Extension is the southern room; Flemish bond brick with decorative burnt headers on the front, the rest timber-framed and clad with peg-tile. 2-window front of various C19 and C20 casements and doorway to left contains possibly C18 2-panel door. Left section is the original pavilion it was square in plan, 2 storeys high, built of Flemish bond red brick with decorative burnt headers, and has a peg-tile roof. It has a chamfered plinth and flat band at first floor level.

These garden features play an important role in the visual appearance of Groombridge Place (q.v.).

Listing NGR: TQ5328437681