Description

PAULERSPURY A5
SP74NW (East sidej
4/36 The Chain Gate and lodges and
01/12/51 attached quadrant walls,
piers, standards and chains
(Formerly listed as Chain
Lodge on Watling Street)

- I

Gateway and lodges. 1822-3 by John Raffield for third Earl Pomfret. Limestone
ashlar and Coade stone, rendered brick, concealed lead roofs. Central gateway
joined to one-unit lodges by colonnades. Gateway has round-headed arch with
imposts and console keyblock flanked by unfluted Corinthian columns supporting
entablature with cock's head crest in frieze above columns, a blank panel above
with arch and topped by swagged urns either side of arms of Earl Pomfret with
lion supporters, earl's coronet and motto "HORA E SEMPRE". Capitals, crests,
urns and arms of Coade stone, the latter inscribed on base "CROGGAN/LATE COADE"
to left, "LONDON" to right and 1822 in middle. Lower 5-bay colonnades extend
either side of gateway to lodges either end, the central bay of each wider with
pedestrian gate and incised panel lintel; unfluted columns, composed capitals in
Adam style, full entablature with bucrania in frieze above columns either side
of central bay which is topped by large oval urn, flanked by swagged urns, all
of Coade stone. Ornamental gates and railings of cast iron with spear finials.
Square one-storey one-window lodges have round-headed sash-windows with imposts,
recessed in round-headed arches. Plinth, moulded within arches. Moulded sill
band within arches. Frieze and cornice, blocking cornice with acroteria and
reclining deer facing outwards in Coade stone. Sides of lodges are rendered to
imitate ashlar and have 4-panel doors to inner sides behind colonnades.
Elevations to park similar to front but topped by large Coade stone urns with
flame finials. Quadrant walls of rendered brick, stone coped, extend from lodges
to stone piers with attached low cast-iron standards supporting chains which
form boundary to area of grass either side of drive. Design exhibited at the
Royal Academy in 1825, constructed as the principal entrance to the park of
Easton Neston house and now also the main entrance to Towcester racecourse.
(Buildings of England Northamptonshire, p.205; Howard Colvin, 'A Dictionary of
British Architects', 2nd Edition, 1978, p.669).

Listing NGR: SP7042947618

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527127

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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