Lodges, Gate-Piers And Gates To The Exe Vale Hospital

EXMINSTER EXMINSTER SX 98 NW

4/47 Lodges, gate-piers and gates to the Exe Vale Hospital 21.11.85

GV II

Lodges, gate piers and gates. 1842-45 by Charles Fowler. Brecchia ashlar lodges with granite and freestone dressings, slate pyramid roofs with lead rolls to the hips and rendered stacks. Each lodge consists of 2 adjoining blocks, one set slightly forward with the original stack at the junction between the 2 blocks. The north lodge has an additional single-storey block at the rear, there have been some C20 modifications to the south lodge. The lodges flank the drive entrance and between them are 2 gate-piers to the carriageway linked to each lodge by a screen with a pair of pedestrian gates. 2 storeys 1 + 1 window front with rusticated granite quoins and freestone bracketted eaves cornice. 12-pane ground floor sashes in granite architraves, the south lodge has an additional ground floor window. Each lodge has 2 first floor 12-pane sashes in pedimented dormers. Square-headed doorways on the inner returns of each lodge have moulded granite architraves with cornices and panelled aprons. Between the lodges a gateway for vehicles is flanked by rusticated chamfered granite gate piers with bracketted cornices, pyradmidal caps, and granite pilasters. Paired pedestrian gateways on either side of the main entrance are divided by smaller granite piers with rounded caps. Good cast iron vehicular and pedestrian gates; the main gates with diagonal braces above the middle rail and bold cresting above the top rail. Iron overthrow above the main gates; iron lampholders crown the smaller piers. The lodges and gates lead into a long straight avenue in front of Centre House, the administrative block of the former Devon County Pauper Lunatic Asylum (q.v. Exe Vale Hospital), and are material to the imposing setting of Centre House.

Listing NGR: SX9419588114