Boundary wall, gates and gatepiers at Chantmarle Manor

Boundary wall, gates and gatepiers at Chantmarle Manor, built c.1910 by Francis Inigo Thomas for Francis Savile.

MATERIALS AND PLAN The walls and gatepiers are constructed of Ham stone, with iron gates. The wall runs roughly east-west and encloses the northern side of the entrance forecourt to the house.

DESCRIPTION The boundary wall begins on the southern side of Chantmarle Lane on the approach to the house with an ashlar wall with flat copings, which steps up to a tall obelisk marking the corner of the entrance forecourt. From here, the wall is surmounted by balustrading with piers at intervals, with recessed ogee curves forming the entrance with centrally-placed piers and gates. The gates are placed on an axis with the avenue of trees opposite, and this axis continues through the forecourt, across the centre of the south garden to the footbridge beyond.

The gate piers stand on square plinths and have tall recessed panels to their north and south faces, with moulded sections and broad projecting cornices above. These are capped by decorative finials in the form of open obelisks. Between the piers are highly decorative wrought-iron gates.

The boundary wall continues to the west with further sections of balustrading and piers, where it gradually steps up until it joins the service wing of the house.