Grecian Lodge and gatepiers, Downside Abbey

Lodge at eastern entrance to Downside Abbey, constructed in 1827 to designs assumed to be by HE Goodridge, with later gatepiers and entrance gates by EJ Hansom.

MATERIALS: the lodge is constructed of ashlar Bath stone under a welsh slate roof.

PLAN: the lodge is a small square building with projecting front porch under a pyramidal roof topped with two diagonally placed stacks with tall chimney pots.

EXTERIOR: the overall style of the lodge is Grecian with some Gothic Revival detailing. The south-facing elevation of the lodge has a projecting entrance porch. The porch has a central doorway flanked by decorative Tuscan pilasters with plain bases and plinths and Tuscan capitals. Above the door is a simple rectangular frieze with later iron cross-ties at its centre. The doors are modern timber insertions, however, appear to retain C19 octagonal doorknobs with facing plates.

The four elevations of the lodge have sunken pilasters at each corner, each decorated with plain bases and plinths topped with Tuscan capitals. The capitals continue around the wall plate of the building to support the deep overhang of the pyramidal roof form. The deep soffit is decorated with evenly spaced iron paterae flower roundels. The pyramidal roof is topped with two central chimney stacks with chamfered square copings and tall circular clay chimney pots. All windows are two light central mullioned casements with rectangular hood moulds. The west elevation has an off-centre single door opening and no windows. At the rear is a modern lean-to addition.

INTERIOR: this space is understood to be divided to form four domestic spaces, two of which include the original back-to-back fireplaces. Side hung panelled timber shutters survive on all windows.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the gatepiers and entrance gates located at the eastern entrance to the Downside Estate are built in a Gothic Revival style. The two-ashlar stone gatepiers are square detailed with chamfered base and shoulder chamfer topped with a prism capstone carved to mimic a tiled roof. It has a trefoil ridge piece and repetitive acanthus leaf carving at the eaves. The east and west faces are embellished with circular reliefs carved with heraldic symbols. The north and south faces have projecting trefoil set with arched gablets to the north and south. The piers are flanked by coursed rubble stone walls topped with triangular coping stones. The gates are known to be C20 iron replacements with plain pickets, decorative scroll panel, square standards with fleur de lyse railing heads and square posts with ball finials.