Gates and Piers at Entrance to Hedgmead Park

The gates and piers at the entrance to Hedgemead Park were constructed around 1889, possibly designed by T.B. Silcock. They feature cast iron gates, piers, and railings set on an ashlar plinth. The double gates have long and short railings that rise through two horizontal rails below the center, with two additional horizontal rails at the top that include short infills between them. The alternate vertical railings are topped with fleur-de-lys heads. Each gate has elaborate vertical scrolled panels in the center, adorned with urn finials, while the sides feature similar half scrolls. The square section piers have moulded bases and panelled shafts, topped with wide cornices and roll-edged block tops that support flattened spherical balls with spikes on each of their four sides, along with smaller ball finials. The adjacent plinth has substantial bull-nosed stone coping and steps that descend in sections, with vertical panels similar to those at the center of each gate located to the left of each level stage. Hedgemead Park was established by T.B. Silcock in 1889 as a public garden after landslips rendered the ground unsuitable for building.