Grotto 250 Metres South East of St Giles House

GROTTO 250 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ST GILES HOUSE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1120131
Date first listed:
03-Apr-1986
List Entry Name:
Grotto 250 Metres South East of St Giles House
Statutory Address:
GROTTO 250 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ST GILES HOUSE

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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1120131
Date first listed:
03-Apr-1986
List Entry Name:
Grotto 250 Metres South East of St Giles House
Statutory Address 1:
GROTTO 250 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ST GILES HOUSE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
GROTTO 250 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ST GILES HOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Wimborne St. Giles
National Grid Reference:
SU 03448 11422

Details

WIMBORNE ST GILES SU 0311 ST GILES HOUSE

13/111 Grotto 250m south-east of St Giles House

II*

Grotto, 1750s by Castles of Marylebone. Flint and rubble with tiled and slated roof. Overgrown and in a state of dereliction so that much of the structure is hidden. Positioned so that the structure appears to be the source of a spring feeding the ornamental lake. Three rounded arches, the central one leading into the main grotto and the outer ones leading into subsidiary compartments. The main grotto which cannot now be easily entered has walls lined with shells, fossils, coral and stone mounted on a lathe and plaster vault, partially collapsed. It consists of 2 chambers the innermost of which is said to contain a C19 tiled floor and fireplace. The subsidiary compartments contain flints suspended from iron hooks. Main grotto has a plank door. An important example of this type of grotto but now in a state of considerable disrepair. (RCHM, Dorset, vol V, p 97, no. 6. Newman, J and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England: Dorset, 1972, p 473. Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, 1953, p 47-9).

Listing NGR: SU0344811422

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
107446
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1975), 97
Pevsner, N, Newman, J, The Buildings of England: Dorset, (1972), 473
Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, (1953), 47-49

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 12 Dorset,

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Grotto 250 Metres South East of St Giles House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 20-Jun-2026 at 20:41:49.

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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