Grotto in the Grounds of Ascot Place, to South of House at West End of Lake
GROTTO IN THE GROUNDS OF ASCOT PLACE, TO SOUTH OF HOUSE AT WEST END OF LAKE, PIGEONHOUSE LANE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1390475
- Date first listed:
- 20-Dec-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto in the Grounds of Ascot Place, to South of House at West End of Lake
- Statutory Address:
- GROTTO IN THE GROUNDS OF ASCOT PLACE, TO SOUTH OF HOUSE AT WEST END OF LAKE, PIGEONHOUSE LANE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1390475
- Date first listed:
- 20-Dec-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto in the Grounds of Ascot Place, to South of House at West End of Lake
- Statutory Address 1:
- GROTTO IN THE GROUNDS OF ASCOT PLACE, TO SOUTH OF HOUSE AT WEST END OF LAKE, PIGEONHOUSE LANE
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 IN THE GROUNDS OF ASCOT PLACE, TO SOUTH OF HOUSE AT WEST END OF LAKE, PIGEONHOUSE LANE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bracknell Forest (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Winkfield
- National Grid Reference:
- SU 91311 71181
Details
674-1/13/261 PIGEONHOUSE LANE 16-JUN-04 (South of) GROTTO IN THE GROUNDS OF ASCOT PLACE, TO SOUTH OF HOUSE AT WEST END OF LAKE
GV I Grotto. c1750, Robert Turnbull & Scott, masons, for Daniel Agace. MATERIALS: stone, with exotic mineral embellishment. PLAN: irregular plan of one main chamber and several lesser chambers. EXTERIOR: approached by cavernous entrance on east facing end of lake. A mound of large boulders and blocks of stone apparently disposed at random among grass and mosses, with small shrubs. 2 flights of small irregular stone steps to top of mound where there are flat stones for sitting. Below rocky entrance with an iron gate to small, over antechamber with seats formed of low rocks and quartz decoration to walls. Narrow entrance to main chamber, quatrefoil shaped, lit by octagonal central lantern in roof whose leaded lights show quatrefoil shapes. Walls are covered with small, white glittering quartz crystals in large clusters. All around edges of roof descent artificial stalactites of varying lengths in irregular double row. Also covered with small, white lengthwise crystals. From subsidiary entrances at either side of mould other passages and small chambers, behind main chamber, can be reached.
HISTORY: According to J.C. Loudon (The Gardener's Magazine, 1829, 568)this grotto was built to the designs of Daniel Agace, owner of Ascot Place, with masons named Turnbull & Scott. According to Rupert Gunnis's 'Dictionary of British Sculptors', Robert Turnbull built both the grotto and the Corinthian Temple at Ascot Place in c.1750, citing Hakewill's 'Windsor'. The embellishment of the interior may be the work of the specialist grotto-builders, Joseph & Josiah Lane of Tisbury, who also worked on the grottoes at nearby Oatlands and Painshill. Headley and Meulenkamp state that 'it is hard to think of a finer grotto in Britain'. An outstanding example of a Rococo garden structure, related to an important Registered landscape, which reflects the contemporary taste for buildings of mystery, delight and natural wonderment. The grotto forms part of the garden listed II* in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
SOURCES: English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest: Part 3 : Berkshire; Gunnis R: Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851: 401; Barbara Jones, Follies & Grottoes (1974), 160-63; Gwyn Headley & Wim Meulenkamp, Follies (1990), 215; Hazelle Jackson, 'Shell Houses and Grottoes (2001), 18-19, 33-34.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 489474
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Headley, G, Meulenkamp, W, Follies, (1990), 215
Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, (1974), 160-163
Jackson, H, Shell Houses and Grottoes, (2001), 18-9 33-4
Gunnis, R, Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, (1953), 401
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 3 Berkshire,
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 25-Jun-2026 at 13:05:56.
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