Avenue Lodges And Attached Screen Forming Principal Entrance To Castle Ashby Park

Avenue Lodges and the attached screen form the principal entrance to Castle Ashby Park. They were designed in 1868 by E.W. Godwin. The structures are built from coursed squared limestone with limestone dressings, featuring plain-tile roofs and stone ridge stacks on the lodges. The lodges are arranged in an L shape and are two stories high with two-window ranges. They create a symmetrical composition at either end of the entrance screen, which has a cross-wing at its innermost point.

The gable ends of the cross wings feature shallow two-story oriel windows with leaded stone mullions and transoms on the front, and one-light windows with transoms on the sides. The wings on either side have five-light leaded stone mullion windows on the ground floor, with tall gabled dormer windows above, also featuring leaded stone cross windows. The buildings have splayed plinths and stone-coped gables with kneelers and finials.

Entrances are located on the inner sides of the screen, featuring stone lintels and plank doors, with a canted bay window on one side next to the screen. The gate-screen includes a central triumphal arch in the French Renaissance style, characterized by a round-headed archway with a keyblock and carved spandrels, flanked by plain pilasters with Renaissance-style capitals. The frieze displays Compton crests, and the steep hipped stone roof is adorned with an elaborate cartouche of arms framed by pilastered and gabled dormers, complete with finials.

Double cast-iron gates are present, and the screen flanking the gateway features balustrades interrupted by tall piers banded with ironstone. The Avenue Lodge and screen serve as the main entrance to Castle Ashby Park, leading to an avenue over one and a half miles long that aligns with the entrance front. They are part of the extensive improvements carried out by the 3rd Marquis of Northampton.