Grotto At South West Corner Walled Garden

The grotto at the south-west corner of the walled garden at Highnam Court is a mid-19th century structure designed by Pulham for T. Gambier-Parry. It is made of Pulhamite, a type of artificial stone, with a rendered finish, likely over brickwork. The grotto features a shallow recess within an irregular garden setting. The front wall consists of large, irregular blocks of Pulhamite that simulate stone, with a semi-circular archway. Boulders and rough stone extend to the left and right, leading back to the garden wall, and the entire area is overgrown with bushes and plants. Inside, there is a rectangular space with rendered walls above a rendered plinth. The rear corners have piers, and there is a slight projection at the center of the rear wall containing a niche with a statue of an owl holding a mouse. The ceiling is a flat, rendered barrel vault. This grotto is part of a garden design by Pulham, which is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of his work.