Tunnels And Grotto Recess

The Tunnels and Grotto Recess is a Grade II listed structure located in Stancombe Park, North Nibley, built around 1860 for Reverend David Edwards. The construction features a combination of ashlar and roughly hewn marlstone, with brick-lined tunnels. The main tunnel is long and straight, ending at the north with a brick-shelved recess that contains fossils. Just south of this recess, two additional tunnels enter at angles, with a cross-vault at their junction and a central circular light-hole above. The tunnels are accessed through one of the angled entrances, both of which are framed by naturalistically hewn marlstone blocks. At the southern entrance, large raking buttresses made of ashlar marlstone provide support. The main tunnel is aligned with the Square Court and is part of a larger sequence of features within the extensive Regency and early Victorian landscaped park and pleasure garden.