Listed Building: GROTTO 250 METRES SOUTH EAST OF ST GILES HOUSE (107446)

WIMBORNE ST GILES SU 0311 ST GILES HOUSE 13/111 Grotto 250m south-east of St Giles House II* Grotto, 1750s by Castles of Marylebone. Flint and rubble with tiled and slated roof. Overgrown and in a state of dereliction so that much of the structure is hidden. Positioned so that the structure appears to be the source of a spring feeding the ornamental lake. Three rounded arches, the central one leading into the main grotto and the outer ones leading into subsidiary compartments. The main grotto which cannot now be easily entered has walls lined with shells, fossils, coral and stone mounted on a lathe and plaster vault, partially collapsed. It consists of 2 chambers the innermost of which is said to contain a C19 tiled floor and fireplace. The subsidiary compartments contain flints suspended from iron hooks. Main grotto has a plank door. An important example of this type of grotto but now in a state of considerable disrepair. (RCHM, Dorset, vol V, p 97, no. 6. Newman, J and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England: Dorset, 1972, p 473. Jones, B, Follies and Grottoes, 1953, p 47-9). Listing NGR: SU0344811422

Record last edited

Nov 1 2006 5:13PM