Twerton Wood Tunnel West Portal (MLN110915)

MATERIALS: squared and coursed Pennant stone, with dressings of Bath ashlar for the voussoirs, quoins, string courses, capping stones and arrow loops, and blue engineering brick for the innermost part of the arch.

DESCRIPTION: symmetrical composition with a pointed segmental arch flanked by turrets. The arch has chamfered voussoirs, the innermost part replaced in engineering brick but retaining the keystone, all recessed within another arch of similar profile. Above the arch, a string course and, above that, a crenellated parapet with sloping and moulded coping stones and a post-war steel railing of tubular section. This central part of the portal is flanked by two crenellated turrets of octagonal plan (with quoins), their lower parts stepped outwards to wider bases, battered out at the bottom, and their upper parts rising above the central parapet. Their faces are decorated with arrow loops and string courses at two levels, the upper incorporating blank shields. Turrets flanked by short sections of plain wall with coping stones, stepping down and curving inward.

The portal is prominent in the landscape of the Avon valley west of Bath and forms a gateway on the approach to the city from Bristol by rail.