Worcester Lodge To Badminton Park, With Flanking Quadrant Walls And Terminal Pavilions

DIDMARTON A433 ST 8187 and ST 88 NW (south side) 14/57 and 9/57 Worcester Lodge to Badminton Park, with flanking quadrant walls and terminal pavilions 6.9.54 I

Entrance lodge to Badminton Park incorporating an upper dining room. 1746, by William Kent. Ashlar on vermiculated rusticated base, lead roofs with moulded stone dentil cornice. Single main block of 4 storeys with large central groin vaulted archway and flanking small single-storey square wings with pyramid roofs. Ashlar plinth and plat bands to rusticated lower 2 storeys, with dropped keystones to flanking round-headed niches with blind recess over. Central pedimented section slightly projecting has large round-headed window running through 2 upper storeys with stone balustraded balcony over round-headed arch with triple keystone and pair of wrought iron gates to north side only. Beaufort arms in pediment. Blind niche and recess immediately flanking main window and 15-pane sash to each set-back side with blind attic recess. Almost identical facade to south side. East and west sides have central arched recess with full-length 18-pane window leading on to similar smaller balcony, and repeating motif of flanking niche and recess. Central saucer dome on near-octagonal drum with small stone stack to each flank and hipped roof to each side. Inner flanks of archway have large arched recesses each with 6-panel door and blind doorway. East side has vestibule with steep wooden stair with central partition dividing different height treads for each foot. West side has cantilevered moulded stone stair with wrought iron balustrade leading to upper room with very fine plastered ceiling by Kent depicting the flowers and fruit of the 4 seasons, and fluted pilasters flanking the large windows. Overmantel thought to have been imported, but gilt framed convex mirror above designed by Kent with radiating sunburst pattern. Flanking outside wings have ball finials to each corner of pyramid roof base, and are in vermiculated rustication with large plain triple keystones to round-headed windows to north and south. Quadrant walls to each side divided into 10 bays marked on inner face by plain piers with shallow pyramidal caps, with central feature of partially blind archway with raised pediment. Octagonal end pavilions in ashlar with vermiculated plinth and plat band with shallow slate roof and ball finial, with arched recess to alternate faces blind except for radial glazed fanlight, and access from rear. Once surrounded by trees, it now stands alone at the end of the Three Mile Ride from Badminton House on the edge of the main road to Tetbury. (David Verey, Buildings of England: Gloucestershire - the Cotswolds, 1979; Tim Mowl, Trumpet at a Distant Gate, 1985)

Listing NGR: ST8102287128