Grotto
GROTTO, HALLSWELL PARK
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391741
- Date first listed:
- 07-Aug-2006
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto
- Statutory Address:
- GROTTO, HALLSWELL PARK
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391741
- Date first listed:
- 07-Aug-2006
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto
- Statutory Address 1:
- GROTTO, HALLSWELL PARK
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, HALLSWELL PARK
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Goathurst
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 24971 33768
Details
GOATHURST
1873/0/10011 HALLSWELL PARK 07-AUG-06 Grotto
II Rockwork grotto at southern end of Mill Wood. Mid-C18 for Sir Charles Tynte. Attributed to the architect and landscape gardener, Thomas Wright. Built of sandstone rubble. PLAN: Consists of three separate arched recesses which have been built into the hillside and together form a semi-circular plan. EXTERIOR: All are built in a rustic style with a front 'wall' of thin rubble brought to course and a semi-circular head to the open archway. The south eastern recess has an inscribed stone plaque on its external face referring to Moses drawing water from a rock. A natural spring, with a C20 brick capping, rises in front of this recess. This capping is not of special interest. A curved, sloping pathway whose sides are faced with coursed rubble enters the grotto from the south west. INTERIOR: Internally the walls of the recesses are also of exposed sandstone rubble, and except for the south western one, which contains a set of timber shelving, probably of C20 date, all are bare. HISTORY: The grotto is situated on the western edge of Halswell Park; a grade II registered park and garden. The existing parkland around Halswell House was developed into a 'natural' landscape after 1740 when the estate was inherited by Sir Charles Tynte. These pleasure grounds comprise three distinct areas, linked by rides and drives through the parkland. That in Mill Wood appears to have developed in the 1750s from an existing area of woodland and was intended to stimulate a variety of emotional responses in the visitor. The grotto is sited at the head of a chain of six ponds, formed by damming a stream, and linked by cascades and other ornamental structures. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: This is a substantially intact mid-C18 grotto that contributes to Wright's overall design of the landscaped parkland around Halswell House. It is associated with a number of contemporary garden structures with which it has strong group value and is an indicative feature of C18 landscape design. SOURCES: The Victoria County History of Somerset (1992), ed. R W Downing History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset (1791) Rev. J Collinson. Country Life XXIV November 21 (1908) pp 702
ST2497133765
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 495882
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Somerset: Volume VI, (1992), 702
Collinson, J, History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset, (1791)
Country Life in 21 November, (1908)
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 13-Jul-2026 at 23:35:55.
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