Buckingham Lodges, East Lodge

This is a lodge, built before 1809. It is constructed of coursed squared limestone with limestone ashlar and Coade stone dressings, and has a sloping copper roof concealed by balustrades. The lodge follows a two-unit plan and has a single storey and a two-window front.

The entrance side, facing south, features a central six-panel door with a flat-arched head and stone brackets. There are twelve-pane sash windows either side, each with stone sills and flat-arched heads. Above the door and windows are rectangular recessed ornamental panels: the panel above the door is of Coade stone, decorated with a scallop shell and stylized foliage; the panels above the windows are of painted cast lead, depicting the Triumph of Venus. Pilasters extend to the corners, featuring frostwork panels at the front and sunk panels to the sides. A deep, bracketed cornice and balustraded parapet extend around three sides. The balustrade is punctuated by a central rectangular pier with a recessed Coade stone panel depicting an urn flanked by gryphons. This panel is bordered by two red terracotta paterae, one above the other. Square pedestals at each corner of the balustrade have larger paterae. Circular classical altars are set on the pedestals, stamped ‘COADE & SEELY LAMBETH’, and at least two of these are chimney flues.

The left side of the lodge has a blank round-headed arch and a cast lead panel above, depicting the Triumph of Neptune. The rear elevation mirrors the entrance side’s composition, but has a central shell-headed niche, one blank window, and a different Coade stone panel in the centre of the balustrade featuring acanthus and anthemion motifs. A twentieth-century single-storey extension is attached to the right. The lodge was formerly connected to the West Lodge by timber rails and a gate.

Built for the 1st Marquis of Buckingham, the lodges stand at the head of the avenue leading to Stowe from Buckingham.