Grotto adjoining Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey is a Grade II* listed building in the Flintshire local planning authority area, Wales. First listed on 2 April 1987. Grotto.

Grotto adjoining Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey

WRENN ID
fallen-transept-snow
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
Flintshire
Constituency
Clwyd East MP: Becky Gittins (Lab)
Country
Wales
Date first listed
2 April 1987
Type
Grotto
OS grid reference
SJ 105 833
Coordinates
53.33929, -3.34549
Source
Cadw listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The grotto adjoining Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey is a Grade II* listed structure built partly into natural rock and partly constructed with rubble and mortar to give it a rock-cut appearance. It features three well-hewn entrances. Inside, there is a central chamber that is open to the sky, along with passages that include niches, carved seats, and several carved grotesque figures on the walls. The most notable of these figures is located inside the lower entrance and depicts a heraldic lion, which represents the Mostyn family. This lion has its mouth open, with openings at its back designed for lighting fires that would produce flames and smoke from the lion's mouth.

Local climate

Grotto adjoining Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey sits in a wetter-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 980 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 78% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 56% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 19 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 80% of listed buildings. Of these, 10 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey Grade II 19 m
  2. Talacre Abbey Grade II* 83 m
  3. Walls enclosing service yard at Talacre Abbey, with steps to garden Grade II 94 m
  4. Fountain and associated rockwork at Talacre Abbey Grade II 102 m
  5. Terrace on N side of Talacre Abbey Grade II 103 m
  6. Garden steps on N side of Talacre Abbey Grade II 117 m
  7. Riding school & stable at Talacre Abbey Grade II* 129 m
  8. St Benedict's Lodge Grade II 242 m
  9. Gate piers S of St Benedict's Lodge Grade II 253 m
  10. Outbuilding on NE side of Home Farm at Talacre Abbey Grade II 328 m