East Gateway And Lodges

The East Gateway and Lodges form part of the early 18th century, Forcett Park, likely designed by Daniel Garrett for Richard Shuttleworth. The complex comprises a central gateway, railings, two lodges, and associated gates. The construction is primarily ashlar sandstone with vertical parallel tooling, and Welsh slate roofs, complemented by cast-iron railings and gates.

The central gateway features a round-arched carriageway flanked by pedestrian gates, all linked by a wall with side railings leading to the lodges. The gateway’s design incorporates archivolt details, square responds with caps acting as cornices over the straight-headed pedestrian gate openings, and four Roman Doric half columns supporting an open central pediment and a large Doric frieze above the side gates. The structure is surmounted by five large urn finials, some damaged, with the central three displaying gadrooning. Two main central gates exist, one of which was found broken nearby; these gates exhibit moulded bars, a round-arched triple "arcading" with decorative patterns in the lower halves and a base rail adorned with diapers and paterae, as well as elaborate scrolling across the top. The side gates are similarly designed but lack the decorated base rail and top scrolling, featuring bronze cresting to their finials. Low walls support railings consisting of round bars with decorative finials.

The lodges are single-storey structures, each with one bay, featuring a Roman Doric Venetian window set within a round arch. The sills are continuous, acting as a band lining with a coping below the railings, and are topped by a pediment with an inclined parapet that terminates in a circular gable chimney. The rear elevations mirror this design. The inner return sides of the lodges boast a four-panel door within a rusticated quoined surround, featuring a raised extended lintel and a large tripartite keystone. A moulded cornice is present. A small extension to the south of the south lodge is noted, as are extensions to the north and east of the north lodge, these being of no significant interest.