Walled Garden, Potting Sheds And Greenhouses At Stansted House

The site includes a walled garden with potting sheds and greenhouses located at Stansted House. The garden walls likely date from the 18th century, with the layout visible on Ordnance Survey maps of 1813 and 1825. The potting sheds are early 19th century and the greenhouses are shown on an 1880 Ordnance Survey map. The garden walls are formed of three interconnected squares with potting sheds and greenhouses attached to the north wall of the central square. The northernmost square has walls of Sussex bond brickwork, the north section standing approximately seven feet high and the side walls approximately ten feet high, with elaborate stone urns adorning the corners. The central square has walls of English bond brickwork, with the north wall rising to approximately 15 feet and the others to about 10 feet high, finished with stone coping. Cambered entrances with square piers topped by elaborate stone urns are centrally located on the east, west, and south walls; gadrooned urns with floral detail are above the east and west entrances, while the south entrance has fluted urns. The south square’s walls are also of English bond brickwork, about 10 feet high with stone coping, and include some stone triangular buttresses. Two early 19th century potting sheds are attached to the north side of the north wall of the central square. They are constructed of red brick in English bond with half-hipped slate roofs, featuring a single storey and two casement windows. One leaded light window remains. Inside, the potting sheds have brick floors and reused timbers to the roof. A range of greenhouses is attached to the south side of the north wall of the central square. The central section of the greenhouses was rebuilt in the late 20th century after storm damage, while flanking lean-to greenhouses are built on brick bases. The front walls feature pivoting casements, with sixteen bays to the west and eighteen bays to the east, incorporating three cambered brick arches to the east. The interiors have pulleys for roof ventilation. Attached pavilions are at each end of the greenhouse range. The west pavilion is taller than the adjoining structure with top-opening lights to the walls. Its interior has six cast-iron columns on either side and raised beds. The east pavilion was similar but, at the time of survey, the east wall and glass were missing due to storm damage.