Grotto And Bridge Adjacent To East Of No 71 (The Tower House)

The grotto, built in the early 19th century by William Stradling, is located adjacent to the east of No 71 (The Tower House) in Chilton Polden. It is constructed from rubble and tufa and consists of a pair of small connected vaulted chambers, with the floors set slightly below ground level. The chambers are surrounded by an earth bank, supported by retaining walls, creating an irregular oblong mound. One chamber features a roof that rises to a cylindrical rubble ventilator, which has narrow openings in stone surrounds. There are three entrances with steps leading down into the chambers. The east chamber contains a romantic text inscribed on a marble slab. At the east end of the mound, there is a mock pagan altar made of four large stone slabs. Access to the north entrance is provided by a causeway that crosses between two ponds, leading to a small rubble bridge with rough-hewn abutments.