Abbey Lodge And Gatepiers

Abbey Lodge and its gatepiers date from around 1870 and were likely designed by Hans Price of Weston-super-Mare. The lodge serves as an entrance to Banwell Abbey. It is constructed of rubble with freestone dressings, and has slate and double roman tile roofs with raised coped verges.

The building is single-storied and has an irregular arrangement of windows, predominantly square-headed chamfered stone mullion casements. One window features a four-centered arch shape with a three-light timber casement and gothic tracery. The lodge incorporates an embattled round tower situated between a gable with a fleur-de-lys finial and a pitched roof with deep, overhanging eaves. A taller gabled section with an ornate bargeboarded porch adjoins the rear; this section appears to be a reworked barn from an earlier date. A prominent circular corner turret rises to a very tall conical cap. The front of the lodge features a chimney gable with two-light leaded pointed windows set within a flat arch, flanked by 20th-century casements.

To the rear, the lodge adjoins a taller gabled section which includes a gabled porch, both with ornate bargeboards. An attached low wall extends to the road. This wall is pierced with pointed openings, one containing a door and the other with spearhead railings. Following this wall are four rusticated square piers, topped with weathered pyramidal caps; the central two are recessed, and the low curved wall between them has diagonal cast iron railings. Tall, heavy cast iron gates, featuring curved heads and ball finials, are positioned between the central piers.