Remains Of Former Greenhouse, Attached Monument, Wall, Gate And Gatepiers

CASTLE ASHBY CASTLE ASHBY PARK SP8659 13/29 Remains of former Greenhouse, attached monument, wall, gate and gatepiers

GV II

Greenhouse. 1695 partly demolished c.1868. Coursed limestone rubble with limestone dressings. Formerly rectangular in plan and a single-storey, 13-bay range. 3-bay centre breaks forward and survives to full original height. Tall central doorway, approached by low moulded stone steps flanked by window openings of same height and dimensions, all with plain dressed stone surrounds. Three rectangular blank panels above with similar surrounds. Plain dressed stone cornice and plain ashlar stone-coped parapet inflected by pairs of plain piers either end, with taller central section over middle bay with pairs of tapering piers flanked by volutes with cartouche of arms to centre. Piers, probably from Easton Maudit House, all carry terracotta pineapple finials. Chamfered quoins. Wings have been cut down to less than half their original height. Lower portions of similar windows and chamfered quoins. Former doorway now forms niche sheltering marble Italian Renaissance-style wall fountain. The Greenhouse stood on south side of churchyard of Church of St. Mary Magdalene (q.v.) and now forms screen wall. Against the former doorway and facing the church has been erected a large stone aedicule framing life-size marble statue of a female angel. Commemorating 4th Marchioness of Northampton, d.1877 by J.E. Boehm. Attached wall to right with gate leading from Italian Garden to park. Limestone ashlar gatepiers with moulded angles, moulded cornices and stone eagles on stepped bases. Low C19 gate with spear finials. The Greenhouse has been attributed to William Talman who was consulted in 1695 concerning alterations to the north range of Castle Ashby (q.v.), not apparently executed. The building appears on an estate map of 1760 before the park was naturalized by Capability Brown which shows a formal garden laid out in front on similar lines to present Italian Garden. (Castle Ashby park and gardens are included in the HBMC Register of Parks and Gardens for Northamptonshire at Grade I; Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, p138; H. Colvin: A Dictionary of British Architects, 1978, p806)

Listing NGR: SP8636259100