Shell Grotto

The Shell Grotto is a summer-house built at the top of a hill, offering stunning views, although it is designed solely for interior enjoyment. The exterior, restored in 1994, is nearly circular, featuring a wall of roughly coursed limestone rubble on the windward side, which includes a deeply indented doorway. On the north side, there is a random rubble wall with four small windows. These windows are metal-framed casements with leaded lattices of partly coloured glass and Y-tracery, along with plank shutters, all of which are reproduction features from 1994. The roof is a cone made of stone slates, and there is a small chimney.

Inside, the grotto is particularly impressive and is undergoing full restoration as of November 1996. It includes a small fireplace and four windows with the previously mentioned partly-coloured glass. The vaulted roof is supported by six slender columns, which are designed to resemble trees but are actually made of stone. The walls and ceiling are plastered and decorated with patterns of shells, quartz, spar, mica, and other reflective crystals. The decorative patterns feature stars, flowers, and geometric designs. Each arch is outlined with larger shells, and plate oysters are positioned at the springing of each arch. Each section of the roof has a pendant with a pink conch as the finial. The floor, made of teeth and bone, is patterned with interlacing arcs, flowers, and a ring of hearts and diamonds. Much of this work is newly created but aims to replicate the previous designs as closely as possible. This grotto is a high-quality example of imaginative design, reflecting the style and society of its time.