Grecian Lodge and gatepiers, Downside Abbey

Grecian Lodge, built in 1827, stands at the eastern entrance to Downside Abbey. The lodge was likely designed by HE Goodridge, with later gatepiers and entrance gates by EJ Hansom. It is constructed from ashlar Bath stone, covered by a Welsh slate roof.

The lodge is a small, square building with a projecting front porch, which is capped by a pyramidal roof featuring two diagonally placed chimney stacks with tall chimney pots. The south-facing elevation showcases a projecting entrance porch with a central doorway flanked by decorative Tuscan pilasters with plain bases and plinths and Tuscan capitals. A simple rectangular frieze sits above the door, featuring later iron cross-ties at its centre. Modern timber doors are present, but they appear to contain original 19th-century octagonal doorknobs with facing plates.

The lodge’s four elevations feature sunken pilasters at each corner, adorned with plain bases, plinths, and Tuscan capitals. These capitals continue around the wall plate, supporting the deep overhang of the pyramidal roof. The deep soffit is decorated with evenly spaced iron paterae flower roundels. 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. A modern lean-to addition sits at the rear.

Internally, the lodge is divided into four domestic spaces, two of which retain original back-to-back fireplaces. Side-hung panelled timber shutters remain on all windows.

The gatepiers and entrance gates, also at the eastern entrance to the Downside Estate, are in a Gothic Revival style. The two ashlar stone gatepiers are square, featuring a chamfered base, shoulder chamfers, and a prism capstone carved to resemble a tiled roof, including a trefoil ridge piece and repetitive acanthus leaf carving. Circular reliefs carved with heraldic symbols decorate the east and west faces, while the north and south faces have projecting trefoils with arched gablets. The piers are flanked by coursed rubble stone walls topped with triangular coping stones. The gates themselves are 20th-century replacements made of iron, with plain pickets, decorative scroll panels, square standards with fleur de lys railing heads, and square posts with ball finials.