Sundial Terrace, Including Steps, Walls, Seats And Sundial

This is a large, landscaped terrace constructed in 1851 by T L Donaldson for John Henry Hippisley, originally within the grounds of Shobrooke Park, now partially demolished. The terrace is built of Portland stone and features a brass sundial. It is designed in a classical style and overlooks a landscape valley to the east.

The long, ornamental terrace is comprised of three levels. The front retaining wall and parapet rise on either side, terminating with forward breaks, and a large semicircular projection which centres around the sundial. The front retaining wall is slightly battered with three projecting bands of vermiculated rustication. The parapet is interrupted by a series of square piers with simple caps along the main walls, vases at either end, and balls with an obelisk flanking the sundial.

Three flights of stone steps lead back from the sundial to a circular stone-walled fountain in the middle of the upper level. This marks the entrance from a Yew Walk to the site of Shobrooke House to the southwest. Further flights of steps lead from the wide middle terrace to large ornamental stone seats at each end. The stone steps on all sides of the middle terrace have low, plain side walls and square terminals, showing marks where ornate brass flower pots were originally fixed. The steps to the fountain and shell seat to the north have higher side walls and ornate terminal piers with fielded panels of rustication below a key-pattern frieze, topped with vermiculated ball caps.

The large apsidal stone seat at the south end has fluted brackets under the seat with shaped arms, a shaped fielded panelled back with moulded broken scrolls sweeping up to a central carved shell. The apsidal stone shell seat to the north is semicircular in plan and topped by an ornate elliptical shell canopy. Flanking pilasters have projecting bands of vermiculated rustication with moulded edges; scrolls with floral enrichment and a canopy surmounted by a carved shell, shaped arms to the stone seat, and fielded panelling at the back with a panelled frieze interrupted by fluted brackets.

The sundial is fixed to a fluted drum on a Tuscan base with a neck decorated with carved lions’ masks and festoons, set on an octagonal plinth composed of three steps. The ornate brass dial is inscribed ‘Carpenter and Westley, Regent Street, London, 1851’ and includes the initials of John Henry Hippisley. The terrace is enclosed on both sides and the back by yew hedges, situated on a third terrace.