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Highclere Castle Grotto Lodge

At Highclere Castle in North Hampshire, there are several follies contained within the gardens, and the surrounding perimeter estate grounds. A personal favourite of mine being Heaven's Gate, a huge eye catcher arch built high on a hill a mile from the castle, and clearly visible from the gardens. Such was the manner of Eye Catching follies, to literally "catch the eye" of their beholder, and often built within sight of the residence.

Some distance away from the castle, the approach through the woods to Heaven's Gate, first takes one past a very curious affair of a building, a circular Grotto Lodge, although the Grotto itself, built somewhere opposite the lodge in the woods by the 9 daughters of Reverend Thomas Lisle, has now long since disappeared.

The Lodge consists of two circular towers, one large with 3 stories, and one short, with 2. The taller of the towers has an amusing if somewhat ridiculous, embattled, octagonal chimney set atop its flat roof. The smaller tower has a conical roof, surmounted with a ball finial. The towers are connected by a castellated screen. The lodge is solid and very well built, with narrow arched windows and is nicely dressed in knapped flint, with decorative quartrefoil arrow slits added for good measure.

The little road from the lodge meanders on, up the hill until one is literally surrounded by thick curtains of beech trees. A small handheld GPS unit proves invaluable on occasions such as these. Appearing slowly and gracefully to a visitor as it is finally approached, at the very summit of the hill and overlooking the castle far below, stands the mighty Heaven's Gate eye catcher arch.

  
Many Eye catchers are rather crude affairs when you get close to them, but that cannot be said of this particular one: 'Heaven's Gate'. The total height is in the order of 60 foot, with the central arch probably accounting for 30 foot.
Its location on the ridge of Sidown Hill ensures not only a fine view, but also full contact with the forces of nature, something that has now taken its toll.

The folly was built in 1731 from a design, it is thought, by Henry Herbert, a nice unpretentious everyday name for the 9th Earl of Pembroke.
The building work however was not up to standard as it is known to have fallen down shortly afterwards. The event was witnessed and recorded by a Rev. J Milles, who it seems was lucky not to have met his employer on that day.

We had not been there above half an hour before we saw it cleave from ye foundations and it fell with such a noise yet was heard at three or four miles distant.

Whilst other listed structures on the estate receive care and attention, this one seems to have been neglected, and unless some remedial work is soon carried out the skyline will never be the same again. The 6000 acre estate of Highclere is incidentally the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. Which leads me to wonder when does a home becomes a 'seat' - is it when your first aid box displays a blue cross instead of red one ?
The fifth Earl of Carnarvon, who died in 1923 and is buried atop a nearby hill overlooking the estate within a stone tomb, may be remembered for his interest in Egyptology which in turn led to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. His death just seven weeks after the tomb was opened also gave rise to the "Pharaoh's curse". The newspapers of the time knew that headlines announcing "Lord Carnarvon dies of the The Pharaoh's curse" were bound to sell better than 'Lord Carnarvon dies of infected mosquito bite'. Sadly little has changed in the world of journalism even 80 years later.

Looking like an entrance fit for a rather large stable block attached to a country house, the structure waits patiently for someone to act before it is too late.

When does vandalism become a nostalgic autograph...



Clearly E T took considerable care to preserve his mark for posterity, where as W Hall was just happy to leave his mark with a bit less panache.
There are many examples of similar offerings, and most have that genuine patina that only weather and time can give.


Heavens Gate. Click for a larger view

Co-Ords: 444500 158500 / SU 445585   

 

Visiting:-

Highclere castle has many other follies not yet added to this web site, (expected Summer 2007), contained within its grounds and open to the public at certain times of the year.

The Grotto Lodge and Heaven's Gate, cannot be accessed from the castle. It must be noted that this part of the Highclere estate is strictly private, and special permission must be sought should one desire to visit it.

 

 

 

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