History

c1726, designed as a screen or 'clair-voie' at the S end of Switzer's great N-S landscape axis. Switzer introduced the concept of 'ferme ornee' at the beginning of the eighteenth century and the screen acted as a terminus for the formal managed parkland and was designed to lead the viewer's eye out into the open informal landscape. Long thought to be the work of the Davies brothers of Wrexham; recent restoration work has suggested that infact the ironwork may be by Robert Bakewell who is known to have worked with Francis Smith, architect of Warwick on a number of other projects. An C18 view shows the screen and gates flanked by the lodges and side gates later positioned with the Black Gates, although the latter have now been moved to The Tower.

Exterior

Magnificent 30.5m spread consisting of double wrought ironwork gates to centre, openwork iron piers, twin-bay side screens with iron work piers and outer stone piers topped by lead sphinxes. Low curving brick walls to either side.

Double arched centre gates with plain uprights, spear dog bars and wavy lock-bar. Arched overthrow bearing scrollwork foliage, diamond fret pattern and Wynne crest; pilaster supports with foliage corner bosses. Main openwork piers with diamond fretting to scrollwork panels, foliage bosses ogee domed caps with square urn finials containing ironwork flower sprays. Twin open pediments to screens with arched dolphins the Wynne emblem, other detailing as before. Outer scrolled finials attached to rusticated Doric piers with triglyph frieze and fluted corner pilasters, rusticated plinths. Modillion cornice support fine (later?) sphinxes.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade I as an exceptionally fine example of C18 iron work of national importance and for its important contribution to an outstanding early C18 planned landscape park.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17737768

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)