Conduit House Cascade And Adjoining Statues

PARISH OF CHATSWORTH CHATSWORTH GARDENS SK 2670 6/72 Conduit House, Cascade 12.7.67 and adjoining Statues GV I Conduit house, cascade with bridge and adjoining statues. c1696 by Grillet, rebuilt c1702 and partly reconstructed c1833 by Paxton & Holmes including the insertion of a tunnel to conceal the fuel route to the proposed Great Conservatory. Conduit House 1702-3 by Thomas Archer. Statues added in early C19. Coursed squared sandstone and ashlar. The cascade runs in a straight line, descending in 22 shallow steps. The foot of the cascade is flanked by six statues of Carrara marble on sandstone pedestal bases, made in Italy for the Sixth Duke of Devonshire. Half way up the cascade crosses a tunnel by Paxton & Holmes. This has plain round-arched entrances below and parapet walls divided by pilasters into seven bays. Oval pond at the top with mermaids and lions heads spouting water. Flanked by two further statues on circular pedestals. The Conduit House is of sandstone ashlar with frostwork rustication. West elevation forms a tripartite composition with the walls coming forward in a curve. The centre has an open round-arch with keystone and moulded imposts, flanked by paired banded pilasters with two twisting dolphins. Moulded cornice with a curved projection over the keystone. To either side are blind round-arched recesses with rounded corbelled projections. Banded end piers with scallop shells in the entablature. Parapet surmounted by statutory. Stepped lead dome, over which water flows, surmounted by a tall circular domed lantern. The side elevations have semi-circular flights of steps up to flat arched doorways with moulded architraves. Circular domed interior has moulded cornice and round-arched niches, alternately flat backed and half-domed with shell hoods. Moulded brackets on the piers and swags between. The sculpture was carved by Nadauld and Watson. The Gardens and Park are included on the Gardens Register at Grade I.

Listing NGR: SK2630470050