Summary
Lodge at eastern entrance to Downside Abbey, constructed in 1827 to designs assumed to be by HE Goodridge, with later gatepiers and entrance gates by EJ Hansom.
Reasons for Designation
The lodge and entrance gates at Downside Abbey are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* both the lodge and entrance gatepiers are examples of the works of nationally important architects, HE Goodridge and EJ Hansom;
* the lodge and entrance gatepiers evidence good design, quality craftmanship and detailing that is reflective of the architectural approach taken across the monastic estate at this time;
* the lodge and entrance gatepiers are early buildings within the expanding Downside Abbey Monastic and school complex.
Historic interest:
* part of the development of Downside Abbey, established by a Benedictine congregation in the early C19, who created an architectural ensemble of the highest order, employing the most prominent Roman Catholic architects of the period.
* the final design of the lodge provides physical evidence of the financial and architectural considerations being taken during the early period of expansion on the site.
* the lodge and gatepiers play an important role in marking the boundary between the closed monastic precinct and the wider community of Stratton-on-the Fosse.
Group value:
* the lodge and entrance gatepiers are part of a highly significant group of interconnected and functionally related buildings that evidence the development of Downside Abbey over time, of which several are listed at the highest grades.
History
The Downside Estate was acquired in 1814 by a congregation of Benedictine monks compelled to leave their home in Douai, France, at the end of the C18. The monks initially settled in Acton Burnell, Shropshire, and from there, sought a base to establish a new monastery and school. Building began at Downside in the 1820s when the old manor house, Mount Pleasant, was adapted and extended with new school buildings erected in a number of phases throughout the C19 and C20. The monastic buildings and abbey church followed from the 1870s and into C20.
The construction of the lodge at Downside was part of the early phase of building on the monastic estate, marking the formal entrance drive from the village of Stratton-on-the-Fosse into the site. It was built in 1827, shortly after the acquisition of Mount Pleasant and the first phase of buildings designed by HE Goodridge, (1797-1864), a well-known British architect based in Bath and known for his use of classical, Italianate and Gothic styles.
Designs survive for a Gothic lodge drawn up by Goodridge. The Gothic lodge he originally designed was never constructed. The estate instead chose a more frugal option in the form of a simpler Grecian style lodge. This decision-making process is evidenced by a letter on 2 October 1827 Dom (later Prior) Joseph Brown wrote ‘We are about to begin a Grecian Lodge as being cheaper than the Gothic. It will be as plain as can be’. It is assumed that the final design was also by Goodridge.
The gatepiers and entrance gates are known to have been a later addition. The original gates no longer survive, and it is not known when they disappeared. They were constructed in 1870 to 1871 by Edward Joseph Hansom (1842-1900). EJ Hansom was from a line of Catholic architects and was himself educated at Downside. He began his working life with Alfred Waterhouse, then in partnership with his father, with whom he created some additional ancillary buildings at Downside. Hansom later entered into partnership with Archibald Dunn (1832-1917), who had been another of his father’s pupils. Dunn and Hansom were commissioned in 1872 to design a comprehensive scheme for the school and monastery.
Details
Lodge at eastern entrance to Downside Abbey, constructed in 1827 to designs assumed to be by HE Goodridge, with later gatepiers and entrance gates by EJ Hansom.
MATERIALS: the lodge is constructed of ashlar Bath stone under a welsh slate roof.
PLAN: the lodge is a small square building with projecting front porch under a pyramidal roof topped with two diagonally placed stacks with tall chimney pots.
EXTERIOR: the overall style of the lodge is Grecian with some Gothic Revival detailing. The south-facing elevation of the lodge has a projecting entrance porch. The porch has a central doorway flanked by decorative Tuscan pilasters with plain bases and plinths and Tuscan capitals. Above the door is a simple rectangular frieze with later iron cross-ties at its centre. The doors are modern timber insertions, however, appear to retain C19 octagonal doorknobs with facing plates.
The four elevations of the lodge have sunken pilasters at each corner, each decorated with plain bases and plinths topped with Tuscan capitals. The capitals continue around the wall plate of the building to support the deep overhang of the pyramidal roof form. The deep soffit is decorated with evenly spaced iron paterae flower roundels. The pyramidal roof is topped with two central chimney stacks with chamfered square copings and tall circular clay chimney pots. All windows are two light central mullioned casements with rectangular hood moulds. The west elevation has an off-centre single door opening and no windows. At the rear is a modern lean-to addition.
INTERIOR: this space is understood to be divided to form four domestic spaces, two of which include the original back-to-back fireplaces. Side hung panelled timber shutters survive on all windows.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the gatepiers and entrance gates located at the eastern entrance to the Downside Estate are built in a Gothic Revival style. The two-ashlar stone gatepiers are square detailed with chamfered base and shoulder chamfer topped with a prism capstone carved to mimic a tiled roof. It has a trefoil ridge piece and repetitive acanthus leaf carving at the eaves. The east and west faces are embellished with circular reliefs carved with heraldic symbols. The north and south faces have projecting trefoil set with arched gablets to the north and south. The piers are flanked by coursed rubble stone walls topped with triangular coping stones. The gates are known to be C20 iron replacements with plain pickets, decorative scroll panel, square standards with fleur de lyse railing heads and square posts with ball finials.
