Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall
Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AR
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1405720
- Date first listed:
- 15-Nov-2011
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall
- Statutory Address:
- Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AR
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1405720
- Date first listed:
- 15-Nov-2011
- List Entry Name:
- Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall
- Location Description:
- The grotto is situated below the south garden terrace of Crowe Hall.
- Statutory Address 1:
- Grotto below south terrace at Crowe Hall, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AR
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 below south terrace at Crowe Hall, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AR
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- ST7600863911
Summary
A C18 grotto situated below the south terrace at Crowe Hall.
Reasons for Designation
* Architectural interest: as an interesting example of a C18 garden feature that is well-executed in open-textured stonework.
* Group value: with both the Grade II listed Crowe Hall and the Grade II Registered Park and Garden within which the grotto sits.
History
Characteristic rustic garden embellishment, executed in open-textured stonework, and possibly from the time of the original house of 1742. Ralph Allen was exploring the picturesque possibilities of tufa stone at just this time on his neighbouring estate. The main chamber is not known to have been roofed within living memory, but was very likely thus.
Details
Grotto. Mid- to late C18.
MATERIALS: Tufa and limestone.
PLAN: Complex grotto in three parts, at highest level path passes under two rough arches joined by rough vault, and this in turn carries path over.
EXTERIOR: Flight of thirteen stone steps descends to main chamber, entering under a rough arch with tree-trunk props, embellished with artificial ‘twigs’. Main chamber is circular, and may originally have had rough domed vault, but open to sky. Opposite the foot of the stairs are three rough arched openings in wall, and to right arched entry opposite which rough arch leads to enclosed lower chamber, down three steps, with niche to each side, and exit to south, lower unit completely vaulted.
Sources
Books and journals
Forsyth, M, Pevsner Architectural Guides: Bath, (2003), 217
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 24-Jun-2026 at 06:12:32.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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