Grottoes On East Side Of Fonthill Lake, South Of The Landing Stage

TISBURY FONTHILL PARK ST 93 SW (south side)

1/223 Grottoes on east side of Fonthill Lake, south of the Landing Stage 6.1.66 GV II

Grottoes. Circa 1790, probably by Josiah Lane of Tisbury, for William Beckford. Limestone. Two main groups of grotto, the lower group on the edge of the lake with a low entrance partly under water and several higher entrances from the bank; rocky structure with niches at different levels and tunnels between the entrances to large central chamber with former cascade to rear. A second group of grottoes higher up the bank have several entrances at different levels to rocky tunnels and central chamber with ovoid ashlar-lined bowl, probably originally to hold a reservoir to supply the cascade of the lower grotto. Josiah Lane of Tisbury was an important builder of grottoes for country estates in Wiltshire, also see the grotto at Wardour (q.v.) and at Stourhead (q.v.).

Listing NGR: ST9369531330