North-east and south-east pavilions to east forecourt, Montacute House

The north-east and south-east pavilions to the east forecourt of Montacute House were built between 1590 and 1600 by William Arnold for Sir Edward Phelips. Constructed from Ham stone ashlar, they feature a Welsh slate ogee-hip roof topped with an openwork stone finial.

These square, single-storey pavilions are designed to appear as if they were originally two storeys, with a single bay on each face. Architectural details include a plinth, string course, upper cill band, and a cornice with console bracket dentils. The low castellated parapets are adorned with ornamental merlins and obelisk corner finials set on Doric columns that have corbel bases at the string course level. Each face has a composite window arrangement of one central light flanked by three lights on either side, with the centre lights forming a semi-circular bay. The upper windows include transoms, and all windows are diamond-leaded. The north-east pavilion features a chamfered cambered-arched doorway on the north-west corner, while the south-east pavilion has a similar doorway on the south-west corner.

Inside, the pavilions are simply finished with ashlar facing and feature plain vaulted ceilings. They were originally part of the entrance forecourt, likely used as occasional lodging rooms, and were once complemented by a central gateway that became redundant in 1785.