Steps And Lower Terraces In Garden At Iford Manor

The steps and lower terraces in the garden at Iford Manor were designed around 1905 by H.A. Peto. They consist of three flights of steps connected by terraces, rising from the courtyard at the east end of the manor. The terrace revetment walls are made of rubble stone and feature ashlar piers. The lowest flight of steps is flanked by 18th-century square piers that have fielded panels and moulded cappings, topped with lead urns, and are accompanied by revetment walls with flat coping. The middle terrace includes revetment walls with coping that rises to square plinths adorned with lead urns, and it features a canted recess with a 15th-century Italian wellhead. The upper terrace steps are flanked by 13th-century Comacine Italian marble lions, which stand on plain columns topped with figures. The rubble stone revetment walls also frame the steps. This structure is one of Peto's earliest enhancements to the gardens at Iford Manor.