Terraced gardens and all associated garden buildings at Castle Tor

The formal terraced gardens and associated garden buildings at Castle Tor were created circa 1929-34 by Fred Harrild for H Pickersgill. The gardens are situated on a steeply-sloping site overlooking the bay and comprise four terraces. The structure is built of coursed limestone rubble from Somerset with freestone dressings.

The layout incorporates terrace retaining walls that have a slight batter and castellated pargets which project on corbels. The tower terrace features a medieval-inspired gatehouse with a portcullis, machicolations, and arrow loops. A flight of steps leads through the gatehouse archway to another terrace featuring an ornamented wall and a lead dragon gargoyle fountain. A round tower overlooking the gatehouse is also present on this level. The main terrace contains a linear pond and a keyhole-shaped circular garden. The pond is overlooked by an orangery with a Tuscan colonnade and flanking niches, and a complicated flight of steps leads to the next terrace. Another opening in the retaining wall provides access to a shaft of stairs ascending to the upper terrace, which contains a small formal sunken garden with pergolas supported on Tuscan columns. The sunken garden is adjacent to the contemporary house, Castle Tor, which is excluded from the listing. A final flight of steps, passing through a series of circular arches framing a sea view, leads to the uppermost level. While the original planting is largely lost, vestiges of topiary and box hedges remain. The structures are entirely intact, including the decorative wrought-iron railings along the lower boundary with Lincombe Drive.