Grotto South East of Oldway Mansion

The grotto located south-east of Oldway Mansion was built between 1907 and 1910, during the time when Oldway Mansion was being remodeled for Paris Singer. The grounds were designed by A Duchesne, a prominent French formal landscape architect. This grotto features a steel and concrete construction that is clad with local grey limestone slabs. It includes a serpentine stream lined with concrete and surrounded by heaps of local stone. Above the grotto, there is a rockery with pitched stone paths. The grotto itself contains irregular caverns that overlook a pond, which is fed by a stream that drips water across the openings of the caverns. The original listing description notes that there were blocked openings at either end that allowed for a walk-through with views out. Some of the planting around the grotto may be original. The serpentine stream, which is crossed by flat stone bridges, leaves the pond and feeds into a larger pond that has a rockery alongside it. This grotto is part of the setting of Oldway Mansion and serves as a contrast to the more formal gardens that are closer to the house. It holds group value with other garden features in the area.