Survey Data
Reg No
20902322
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Scientific
Previous Name
Castle Park
Original Use
Demesne walls/gates/railings
In Use As
Demesne walls/gates/railings
Date
1800 - 1820
Coordinates
138223, 101710
Date Recorded
09/10/2006
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Entrance gateway to Castlepark House, erected c. 1810, with gate lodge to north-west. Vehicular entrance flanked by pedestrian entrances, all with square-profile cut limestone piers, those to middle piers being slightly higher, with moulded plinths, moulded cornices and flat caps and courses having decorative cast-iron gates, double-leaf to middle entrance, all set to curved rubble limestone sweep walls with render copings and plinth courses. Doorless cast-iron post box to walling at northmost pier. Detached three-bay single-storey former gate lodge, built c. 1810, now in use as private house, and having two-bay lean-to at rear, hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystack, painted rendered walls with render plinth course, and square-headed door and window openings with render label-mouldings, replacement timber casement windows with painted render sills, and timber panelled door with decoratively glazed overlight, approached by rendered steps. Painted rendered boundary walls with square-profile rendered piers and cast-metal garden gate.
Appraisal
The finely carved, ashlar limestone piers, which are placed together with a high degree of precision, reflect the quality craftsmanship that went into both the construction of the gateway and of the lodge. The cast-iron post-box adds social context to the site. The diminutive classically-inspired former gate lodge is a good example of the language of classical architecture stripped to its fundamental elements to create a modest dwelling in a subtle style. The plain, regular façade is well proportioned with the decorative focus concentrated on the doorway with its geometric overlight. The render label-mouldings further enhance the façade.