The Lantern

The Lantern is a belvedere located in Lyme Park, with its upper storey and spire dating from around 1580, although it was relocated. The lower storeys were constructed around 1700. The lower two storeys are made of coursed squared buff sandstone rubble, featuring hammer-dressed pink sandstone dressings, while the upper storey is built from ashlar buff sandstone. The structure is three storeys tall with a spire and has a symmetrical front.

The ground storey is square and includes a cyma-moulded doorcase at the front, with cyma-moulded reveals on the sides. The corners of the building have bead-moulded coping where the octagonal upper storeys meet. The first storey has five openings on the front and sides, all with cyma-moulded reveals. In contrast, the second storey features plain sills and lintels, with reeded, half-round vertical jambs. The second storey has only blocked plain openings at the rear. There are projecting mouldings at the second floor and eaves, along with a reeded band above the second storey windows. The structure is topped with an octagonal spire.

The second storey was visible as a lantern or bellcote above the north gatehouse at Lyme Park in a painting from 1640. It was removed when a scrolled pediment was added. The same cyma-moulded reveals found in the lower storeys are also present around the windows of the north range at Lyme Park.