The Grotto And The River God'S Cave

The Grotto and The River God's Cave is a Grade I listed grotto and spring head, built around 1748 by William Privet of Chilmark for Henry Hoare, with an entrance added in 1776. Constructed from tufa limestone on a brick base, it features a stone domed roof. The main chamber is circular with two symmetrical arms, leading to a rockwork passage to the north and The River God's Cave to the south, which overlooks a lake.

The entrances to the main chamber have open pediments above semi-circular openings, complete with keystones and imposts, designed in a rustic classical style. A Latin inscription is located over the north entrance, though it is concealed by the 1776 passageway. Inside the main chamber, the opposing entrances are matched by arched openings on the side facing the lake and on the west side, which includes a cold bath and a spring cascading below a painted lead statue of Ariadne. The words 'Nymph of the Grot these sacred springs I keep ...' are incised onto the edge of the pool, which is a 1967 replica of the original translation by Pope.

Niches are situated between the main arches, all connected by impost bands and featuring exaggerated keystones. The floor is laid with a concentric pattern of cobbles, and the domed roof, supported by tufa ribs, is illuminated by a circular window with a disc ornament. Facing the south entrance to the grotto is The River God's Cave, which has an arched opening leading to a vaulted chamber containing a painted lead statue of the River God by John Cheere, created around 1751. The source of the River Stour is designed to flow from an urn. Both the River God and Ariadne are lit by grilled lights in the roofs.

This grotto is significant in the context of English landscape gardening, featuring classical references and functioning as a nymphaeum. Henry Hoare likely aimed to recreate the scene from Virgil's Aeneid, where Aeneas encounters the nymphs and the River God (Father Tiber), who guides him to the Pantheon and the altar of Hercules.