Grotto At South West Corner Walled Garden

HIGHNAM SO 7819-7919 9/36 Grotto at south-west corner walled garden, Highnam Court GV II Grotto. Mid C19 by Pulham for T. Gambier-Parry. Pulhamite (type of artificial stone), render, probably on brickwork. Shallow recess in irregular garden feature. Front 'wall' of large, irregular blocks of Pulhamite simulating stone: semi-circular head to open archway. Boulders and rough 'stone' extend round to left, and to right, back to garden wall: whole overgrown with bushes and plants. Internally rectangular space, rendered walls above rendered plinth: piers in rear corners, slight projection centre rear, with niche containing statue of owl holding a mouse. Flattish, rendered barrel vault over. Part of garden design by Pulham, garden one of largest and best examples of his work surviving. (S. Festing, article in Garden History, XII; Country Life, article in 1899 volume; article in Autumn, 1985 newsletter of Georgian Group in Gloucester and Avon)

Listing NGR: SO7918819272