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

The remains of a former greenhouse, along with an attached monument, wall, gate, and gatepiers, date to 1695 and were partially demolished around 1868. The original structure was a rectangular, single-story, 13-bay range, constructed from coursed limestone rubble with limestone dressings. A three-bay central section survives to its full original height. A tall central doorway leads to the greenhouse, approached by low, moulded stone steps flanked by window openings of identical height and dimensions, all with plain dressed stone surrounds. Above the doorway are three rectangular blank panels with similar surrounds. The building features a plain dressed stone cornice and an ashlar stone-coped parapet with pairs of plain piers at either end; the taller central section over the middle bay has pairs of tapering piers flanked by volutes, incorporating a cartouche of arms in the centre. The piers are likely from Easton Maudit House and are topped with terracotta pineapple finials. The structure has chamfered quoins. The flanking wings have been reduced to less than half their original height, retaining portions of windows and chamfered quoins. A former doorway now functions as a niche, sheltering a marble, Italian Renaissance-style wall fountain. The greenhouse was originally situated on the south side of the churchyard of Church of St. Mary Magdalene and now serves as a screen wall. A large stone aedicule framing a life-size marble statue of a female angel has been erected against the former doorway, facing the church. This monument commemorates the 4th Marchioness of Northampton, who died in 1877, and was sculpted by J.E. Boehm. An attached wall to the right leads to the park via a gate, extending from the Italian Garden. The ashlar gatepiers have moulded angles, cornices, and stone eagles on stepped bases. A low 19th-century gate is topped with spear finials. The design of the greenhouse is attributed to William Talman, who was consulted in 1695 regarding alterations to the north range of Castle Ashby, although the work was not apparently carried out. An estate map from 1760 illustrates the structure before Capability Brown naturalized the park, showing a formal garden laid out with a similar design to the present Italian Garden.