Grotto and Arches on Grotto Hill
GROTTO AND ARCHES ON GROTTO HILL
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1237129
- Date first listed:
- 16-Sept-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto and Arches on Grotto Hill
- Statutory Address:
- GROTTO AND ARCHES ON GROTTO HILL
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-04-17
- Reference:
- IOE01/06698/06
- Rights:
- © Mr W. David Lowe. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1237129
- Date first listed:
- 16-Sept-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto and Arches on Grotto Hill
- Statutory Address 1:
- GROTTO AND ARCHES ON GROTTO HILL
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:
- GROTTO AND ARCHES ON GROTTO HILL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Shropshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Weston-under-Redcastle
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ 57293 29695
Details
WESTON-UNDER- HAWKSTONE PARK SJ 5629-5729 REDCASTLE C.P. 16/184 Grotto and arches on - Grotto Hill - II
Grotto. Early to mid-C18 for Sir Richard Hill, builder of Hawkstone Hall (q.v. under Hodnet C.P.), continued for his nephew, Sir Rowland Hill and considerably embellished and extended for the latter's son, Sir Richard Hill, second baronet of Hawkstone, in late C18. Grotto hollowed out of natural sandstone, possibly making use of existing caves, regularly coursed and dressed sandstone arches at southern entrance, that to front enclosing atrium, which formerly had gabled roof. Pointed arch above served as eye-catcher from below. The original entrances to the grotto were from the path cut in the rock on the west face of the hill but in late C18 a long dark subterranean passage, possibly originally created for the first Sir Richard Hill, was apparently rediscovered and cleared out. Interior: large number of chambers and passages with columns and crude 'vaulting' left by excavation, top-lit by portholes formerly filled with stained glass. At least one round-headed arch has 'rusticated voussoirs'. Several of the chambers were formerly decorated with shells, corals, ore, jet and other encrustations (some of which survive in one of the side chambers off the south entrance) but these and the stained glass were destroyed in 1940s. After inspecting the interior of the grotto, visitors found themselves at the edge of the 'awful precipice' below the southern entrance and could find relief in the rock-cut seat to the right. They were then ready to re-enter the cave, to depart through the western entrance, and to begin the walk across the so-called Raven's Shelf in preparation for the 'arduous' descent. B.O.E. pp.145-6; C.L. (July 10, 1958) pp.72-4; C.L. (May 9, 1985) pp.1246-7; sketch-plan in Barbara Jones, Follies and Grottoes (2nd edn. 1974) p.82.
Listing NGR: SJ5729329695
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 428346
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, (1974), 82
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Shropshire, (1958)
Country Life in 10 July, (1958), 72-4
Country Life in 9 May, (1985), 1246-7
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 35 Shropshire,
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 01-Jul-2026 at 18:47:41.
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