Retaining Walls, Piers, Balustrading, Urns And Figures To Garden Of Orchardlea House

The retaining walls, piers, balustrading, urns, and figures in the garden of Orchardlea House date from the mid-19th century. The central feature is a flight of nine dressed stone steps, flanked by low ashlar walls that end in scalloped and chamfered piers. The higher piers support stone figures of cherubs. A coursed and squared rubble retaining wall extends 60 meters to the east and 60 meters to the west of the steps, with the east side featuring three additional similar piers that hold classical urns. Further similar walling extends 15 meters north from each end and 30 meters north from the west end. A lower terrace is bordered by a rubble retaining wall that runs 90 meters without interruption, topped with a parapet that has 80 decorative stone strapwork panels in three different repeating styles, with the center section projecting forward. This terrace includes two symmetrically placed raised flower beds surrounded by moulded stone. It is believed that the garden was designed by a landscaper named Mr. Page and was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1858, as noted in Cuzner's Handbook of Frome Selwood from 1867.