The Chain Gate And Lodges And Attached Walls, Piers, Standards And Chains

The Chain Gate and Lodges, with attached quadrant walls, piers, standards, and chains, was constructed between 1822 and 1823 by John Raffield for the third Earl Pomfret. The gateway and lodges are built of limestone ashlar, Coade stone, and rendered brick, with concealed lead roofs. The central gateway is connected to single-unit lodges via colonnades. The round-headed arch of the gateway has imposts and a console keyblock, flanked by unfluted Corinthian columns supporting an entablature. The frieze features cock's head crests above the columns, with a blank panel above the arch topped by swagged urns bearing the arms of the Earl Pomfret, including a coronet and the motto "HORA E SEMPRE." Capitals, crests, urns, and arms are crafted from Coade stone, with inscriptions reading "CROGGAN/LATE COADE" and "LONDON” alongside the date 1822. Five-bay colonnades extend from either side of the gateway to the lodges, with the central bay wider to accommodate a pedestrian gate and an incised panel lintel. The columns of the colonnades have Adam-style capitals and a full entablature with bucrania in the frieze; large oval urns, flanked by swagged urns, top the central bay. Ornamental cast iron gates and railings have spear finials. The square, single-storey lodges feature round-headed sash windows with imposts, recessed within round-headed arches. They have a moulded sill band within the arches, and a frieze and cornice with a blocking cornice and acroteria featuring reclining deer facing outwards, all made of Coade stone. The sides of the lodges are rendered to imitate ashlar and incorporate four-panel doors to the inner sides, behind the colonnades. The elevations facing the park are similar to the front, but topped by large Coade stone urns with flame finials. The quadrant walls, constructed of rendered brick and topped with a stone coped edge, extend from the lodges to stone piers. Attached low cast-iron standards support chains that form the boundary of a grassed area either side of the drive. The design was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1825 and was constructed as the principal entrance to the park of Easton Neston house, now also serving as the main entrance to Towcester racecourse.