Building record 4770/0/5 - The Chain Gate and lodges and attached quadrant walls, piers, standards and chains

Gateway and lodge constructed in 1824.

{1} 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).

{4} The grand gateway screen was made by William Croggon, who Mrs Coade's business after death in 1821. The single-storey Coade stone archway, which is signed Croggan rather than Croggon, is crowned by a coat of arms while the two lodges are each topped by recumbant hinds.

{6} Three undated photos, also three photos dated 03.12.1993.

{7} [Former list description] 1824, Gateway and Lodges on Watling Street (Entrance to Race Course). Consisting of Tower of the Winds columned screen, central arch and square lodges.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/36 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Pearson L., 2003, Gazeteer of British Tile and Architectural Ceramic Sites: County Draft, Northamptonshire, p.2 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN103233.

<5> Colvin H., 1995, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects (1660-1840), p.669 (unchecked) (Book). SNN54451.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Paulerspury (Photographs). SNN113514.

<7> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE (HHR) District of Towcester, R.D. Northants. July 1949 25 (Report). SNN112993.

Record last edited

Aug 25 2023 10:09AM