Terrace wall, with garden steps and grotto, between the middle and lower terraces to the rear of York House

Terrace wall, flight of garden steps and vaulted chamber. Late C17 origins with later alterations.

MATERIALS Brick with finely dressed sandstone steps.

DESCRIPTION The terrace wall revets the broad, level middle terrace to the south (rear) of York House. Although this terrace clearly extended westwards as far as the original western wall to York House garden (See NHLE 1220777), that portion to the west of the wall (NHLE 1202752) defining the garden to the rear of The Cloisters was rebuilt in 2012.

The vaulted chamber, constructed of C17 brick, lies just east of the wall to Cloisters' garden. Its rear wall is not keyed into either the side walls or the vault, with the vault appearing to continue for an unknown distance under the middle terrace lawn. The front wall (built of thicker C18 brick) retains a round arched window opening and evidence of a doorway. Much of the rest of the early brickwork of the terrace wall to the rear of York House is covered by later, C19 brickwork, mainly that relating to the two projecting platforms flanking the principal stairs. These stairs are similar in design to those 15m to the north (NHLE 1290844) and align, with them, with the central axis of York House. The stairs are arranged with eight steps flanked by very low chamfered parapets down to a landing with eight further steps beyond. The nosings of the steps are moulded.