Covered And Vaulted Passages And 4 Underground Chambers West Of Westrop House

Circa 1818, these stone passages and four underground chambers were constructed in Wiltshire for William Crowdy, the Lord of the Manor. The passages begin in a yard to the west of number 24 and within the garden of Westrop House. They feature painted brick barrel vaults. From the garden of Westrop House, an ice house and a garden chamber—formerly plastered—are accessed via curved, rock-lined passages, approached by a double entrance framed by a trelliswork. The entrances are constructed of sponge stone. A vaulted passage leads, in a serpentine manner, from the back yard of number 24 to a junction. One branch continues to a former stable yard, and another makes a further curved approach down to a possible secondary ice house. One branch is blocked. Vents are present in the vault. A further chamber— presumably a coal and fuel shed—is entered from the backyard of number 24, near the tunnel entrance. This is a plain vaulted chamber with a coal chute/vent. These passages, originally likely places of amusement for Squire Crowdy, have since acquired spiritual significance.