North West Gateway To Montacute House

ST4917 MONTACUTE CP BISHOPSTON (East side) 7/97 North-west gateway to Montacute House (formerly listed as Gate Piers W. of Montacute House) 19.4.61 - II Entrance gateway. Possibly of 1786, but might be relocated or new-built between 1845-52. Ham stone ashlar gatepiers and sidewalls; cast-iron gates. A length of some 30 metres of ashlar walling about 1.5 metre high with thin shaped coping, punctuated by square gatepiers about 3.5m high, having string, Adamesque frieze and flat cornice with steps and stone representations of flaming braziers on 4 ball feet, a symbol of the Phelips family; the gates are in a C16/17 strapwork style, date of manufacture uncertain; smaller plainer piers about 2.5 metres high at each end of wall. An important element in the setting of Montacute House (q.v) and set on the exact axis of the west front. The drive was constructed 1784-85, but was then described as curving south before approaching the house: some reorganisation of the grounds occurred 1845-52. (Girouard, and others, Montacute House, The National Trust, 1985).

Listing NGR: ST4964517288