Forecourt Walls & AttachedTerrace Walls to E & S sides of Singleton Abbey

The forecourt walls and attached terrace walls on the east and south sides of Singleton Abbey date from the 19th century. The forecourt is accessed via a drive that leads between two sturdy octagonal piers made of cement render, each topped with a lion. The walls, approximately 1.2 meters high, continue along the drive to another pair of octagonal piers, which feature swept-up caps and crocketed finials. Beyond these, the walls curve outward in a quadrant shape to form the forecourt, concluding with Gothic-style ‘fonts’ on octagonal piers. To the south, these walls connect to the terrace wall.

The double terrace has coursed rubble walls and includes a section in front of the south elevation of the abbey, as well as an ornamental walk that runs through the lawns. There are steps at both ends and a main broad flight of steps in the center. The parapet features various octagonal fonts, some adorned with ballflower ornament, creating a medieval or Gothic atmosphere around the mansion. The grand steps are flanked at the top by ‘rampant’ dogs, and nearby stands a sundial on an octagonal pedestal with a stepped base.

The terrace slopes back towards the west end and then turns uphill at the far end, leading to steps down to modern university buildings. This section of the terrace also retains two substantial stone fountains with quatrefoil-panelled octagonal basins; one features grotto-like figures, while the other has dolphins. There is a blocked-up store beneath the terrace on the east side.