Grotto And Ruin In Fawley Court Grounds

FAWLEY FAWLEY COURT SU 78 SE 8/19 Grotto and Ruin in Fawley Court Grounds 21.6.55 GV II

Garden folly in form of ruin with domed grotto. Mid C18, by John Freeman of Fawley Court. Flint, with some stone dressings, and tiled roof over dome. W. end has projecting passage with C14 moulded pointed arch at entrance and roundel with egg and dart moulding above. Behind passage is a high wall with ruinous outline, incorporating a re- used 3-light Perpendicular window and 2 moulded stone corbels. Left side of passage has arched niche; right side has small closet with remains of arched shelves. Grotto has wide semi-circular arch with flanking roundels to N. and massive rusticated rectangular doorway of knapped flint with pediment to S. To left of doorway is a brick arch with flint imposts and keyblock, to right is a roundel. Interior has fine dome of flint with ornamental ribs and frieze of knuckle bones. Entrances now have 1984 metal grills. Folly originally housed part of John Freeman's collection of the Arundel marbles, including a fragment of the Pergamon altar. (G. Tyack, Records of Bucks. Vol. 24 p. 134-5).

Listing NGR: SU7666984010