Description

PADSTOW PRIDEAUX PLACE, Padstow
SW 9075-9175
8/127 Dairy and Grotto

GV II*

Grotto and dairy. Probably early C19, contemporary with Rev. Charles Prideaux-
Brune's work in the house (qv Prideaux Place). Stone rubble with large boulders and
shells on the west elevation. Slate roof with hipped ends, partly covered with a
tarpaulin. The roof is continued down on the east front, forming a verandah which is
supported on 3 slender iron columns.
Plan: 2 cell plan with an entrance to the east, partly sheltered by a shallow
verandah and a grotto-like elevation to the west. Both entrances lead directly into
an anteroom on the south with the dairy proper, to the north, which is oval on plan.
Gothik style.
Exterior: The dairy and grotto is set at right angles to the stables (qv) and forms
the west end of the stable yard. Single storey. East elevation has an asymmetrical
2-window front, the roof continued over a verandah which is supported on slender iron
columns. Entrance to left of centre with 2-light casement with lattice glazing bars
to left and 4-centred arched window opening to right with stanchions and lattice
glazing bars. The west elevation which opens onto the now much overgrown pleasure
gardens, resembles a grotto, the west wall faced with large boulders and decorated
with shells and a central plaster medallion. There are 2 round arched doorway
openings leading into the anteroom and to the dairy.
Interior: Anteroom has the remains of a coved plaster ceiling which has partly
collapsed. A stove was probably used to scald the cream. The dairy is oval in plan
with curved slate tables, arranged around the edge, supported on Gothik 4-centred
arches and legs decorated with cusped blind tracery and the spandrels with incised
quatrefoils. The tops of the tables have shallow drainage channels which form a
decorative pattern. The chamber is lit by 2 windows on the north and east with 4-
centred arched openings and miniature bucrania carved as stops to the inner labels.
Remains of painted glass to the north window.
Although in a poor state of repair, the dairy retains much of its original Gothick
plasterwork and is a particularly delightful example of its type, epitomizing the
ideals of the Picturesque Movement of the mid and late C18.
Kelly, Francis. HBMC report. Prideaux Place, Padstow,

Listing NGR: SW9137575572

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17533149

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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