The Golden Gates

ST 97 SE CALNE WITHOUT CHURCH ROAD, Derry Hill (south side)

2/50 The Golden Gates

15.12.72 (formerly listed as Golden Gates at Bowood House)

GV II*

Entrance arch and tower, 1834-8 by Sir Charles Barry for 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. Ashlar, Italianate style. Monumental composition of balustraded triple gateway flanked by high campanile tower to right and small Italianate lantern to left. Screen walls each side, one with C20 lodge behind. Central arched gateway with console keystone and impost band carried over plain square headed pedestrian gates. Attached Ionic columns flank arch, under richly carved dentil cornice with pulvinated frieze inscribed PAX INTRANTIBUS ET HABITANTIBUS. Armorial roundels over pedestrian gates. Top balustrade with piers and urns. Flanking section to left has incised rustication, mouldings carried around from centre gateway and shallow pyramid-roofed lantern with arched opening each side. Main tower to right of 3 stages. Lower stage with mouldings carried around, arched-head window breaking through band with incised rustication each side. Above band, only angles are rusticated. High second stage with rusticated angles, pedimented window on each face with sill course below. Moulded cornice under top stage belvedere of paired arched openings with arches carried on columns paired in depth. Keystones, moulded arches and imposts. Panelled angle piers. Bracket cornice with diamond faced blocks between brackets and shallow pyramid roof. Screen walls each side divided by rusticated piers and terminated at rusticated corniced piers with ball finials. Ornate iron gates. Rear is similar but 2 eroded sculpted roundels by M.L. Watson (1847) appear in place of armorial plaques. A major work of the C19 Italianate style. Designs in British Architectural Library, London. (Builder, 1845, 83; C.L., 22.6.1972)

Listing NGR: ST9569070495