Baslow Lodges Gates Piers And Railings At North Entrance To Chatsworth Park

The Baslow Lodges, Gates, Piers, and Railings at the north entrance to Chatsworth Park were built around 1839-1842 by Jeffrey Wyatville for the Duke of Devonshire. Constructed from ashlar, the lodges feature roofs that are hidden behind parapets, and they incorporate wrought iron elements. There are two lodges situated symmetrically on either side of the drive, with one and two storeys and an irregular cruciform plan.

The east lodge has three bays on its north and south elevations. The centre bay on the north side is advanced and features a glazing bar sash window on each floor, flanked by paired pilasters. The left bay has a similar design, while the right bay includes a deeply projecting single-storey porch with a glazing bar sash and paired pilasters. The south elevation mirrors this design. A doorway facing the drive has a moulded surround and a deeply bracketed hood, also flanked by paired pilasters. To the right, a blind bay has raised and fielded panels, again flanked by paired pilasters. Additional architectural details include a moulded first-floor band, plain parapets or blocking courses, and balustraded parapets on the porch and the central part of the front range, along with six circular fluted finials and stacks.

The west lodge is a mirror image of the east lodge. The two lodges are connected by wrought iron gates and a screen, with the central pair of gates ramped and flanked by broad decorative pilasters topped with urns. To the north of the drive, there are iron screens with fifteen bays that ramp at the north end and return inwards to monumental ashlar piers. These piers feature sunk panels, are flanked by pilasters, and are topped with caps that have round arches forming cross 'tunnel vaults', each adorned with a sunk panel and a relief of the Cavendish snake.