The north terrace, retaining wall and central steps, to Montacute House is a Grade II listed building in the Somerset local planning authority area, England. First listed on 27 October 1987. Terrace.

The north terrace, retaining wall and central steps, to Montacute House

WRENN ID
sunken-outpost-fen
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Somerset
Constituency
Glastonbury and Somerton MP: Sarah Dyke (LD)
Country
England
Date first listed
27 October 1987
Type
Terrace
Address
The north terrace, retaining wall and central steps, to Montacute House, the Borough, TA15 6XP
OS grid reference
ST 499 171
Coordinates
50.95198, -2.71351
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The north terrace, retaining wall, and central steps at Montacute House date from the 16th century, with modifications made in the 19th century. Constructed from Ham stone ashlar, the terrace is situated between the house and a sunken garden. The retaining wall, located about 7 meters north of the house, is approximately 80 meters long and features a very deep plinth on the north side. It has solid low walls with moulded copings and square piers at intervals, which support a variety of urn and vase finials. The largest of these finials flank the central staircase, which consists of nine steps leading down into the garden. The staircase is flanked by solid side walls that end with piers topped with vase finials. Matching lengths of walling can be found at the east end of the terrace and at the north end of the north garden, where obelisk finials are also present.

Local climate

The north terrace, retaining wall and central steps, to Montacute House receives an average of 830 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 53% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 60% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 31 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 63% of listed buildings. Of these, 11 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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Nearby listed buildings

  1. East patio, with steps and columns, to Montacute House Grade II 39 m
  2. Montacute House Grade I 45 m
  3. Walls, turrets and gateway to east forecourt of Montacute House Grade I 55 m
  4. North-east and south-east pavilions to east forecourt, Montacute House Grade I 75 m
  5. Three flights of stairs into sunken garden immediately north of Montacute House Grade II 86 m
  6. Walls enclosing south car park, about 150 m south of Montacute House Grade II 195 m
  7. South-west gateway to Montacute House Grade II 262 m
  8. Montacute Cottage Grade II 264 m
  9. The Chantry Grade II 274 m
  10. 3 and 4, The Borough Grade II 277 m