Retaining Wall At East End And Whitehall Stairs

The retaining wall at the east end of South Parade and the Whitehall Stairs were built in the early 19th century. They are made of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar coping and feature wrought iron railings. This structure serves as the retaining wall outside No. 14 South Parade. The street was originally laid out by John Wood the Elder, with building plots leased between 1743 and 1749, though the east end was completed later. The current wall and steps were constructed even later; an engraving from 1790 shows the wall set further back, with a flight of steps that came directly away from the wall rather than running parallel to it as they do now. Despite these changes, the wall and steps are significant as they are remnants of the former ferry that served Spring Gardens and Widcombe, which was a charming departure point for pleasure trips.