Fernery the Grotto
FERNERY
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1222502
- Date first listed:
- 11-Oct-1973
- List Entry Name:
- Fernery the Grotto
- Statutory Address:
- FERNERY
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-06-26
- Reference:
- IOE01/16755/08
- Rights:
- © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1222502
- Date first listed:
- 11-Oct-1973
- List Entry Name:
- Fernery the Grotto
- Statutory Address 1:
- FERNERY
- Statutory Address 2:
- THE GROTTO
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.
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- FERNERY
- Statutory Address:
- THE GROTTO
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Central Bedfordshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Old Warden
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 14921 44703
Details
TL 1444 OLD WARDEN THE SWISS GARDEN
11/176 The Grotto and Fernery 11.10.73
- II*
Grotto and fernery. Early 1830's for 3rd Lord Ongley, entrance gables rebuilt by Shuttleworth family and dated 1876. The grotto is of mottled red brick and has clay tile roofs with ridge cresting. The fernery has base of same brick, supporting mainly glass and cast iron structure (ironwork produced 1830-33 by Barwell swaggers Eagle Foundry, Northants). Cruciform plan, grotto running roughly N-S, fernery W-E, grotto with gabled roof, the fernery a vaulted glasshouse, with an iron and glass dome at the intersection. The grotto is lined with tufa stone to give'a cave-like appearance, and has a lancet window to the all of each wing opposite a niche, possibly originally intended for statuary. The later entrance gables have round-headed archways and glazed doors. The 2 fernery wings are each supported internally by a pair of slender cast iron pillars, and each have a circular stained glass panel to the end wall. The central dome is topped by a lantern with a conical roof and ball finial.
Listing NGR: TL1492144703
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 414691
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 2 Bedfordshire,
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 10:59:09.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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