Monument record MDO7858 - Grange Arch, Steeple

An ornamental stone arch built by Denis Bond before 1746 to form an eye-catcher in the landscaping around Steeple Grange, and comprises a central arched opening surmounted by crenellations and flanked by lower wing walls.

'Grange Arch (912817) was built by Denis Bond before 1746 (Bond papers) as an 'eye-catcher' to form an architectural focus to the view southward from the Grange (Plate 58). It may be compared with the three-arched 'eye-catcher' at Rousham, Oxon., of c. 1740. A central round-headed archway is set under an embattled parapet, and walls extending to each side in two stepped bays contain square-headed openings and round-headed recesses under plain parapets finished with stone pyramids.' {1}

Description from record MDO17542:
Grange Arch, a folly belonging to the National Trust, was built by Denis Bond before 1746 to form an architectural focus to the view southward from Creech Grange. <1-2>

SY 912817. Grange Arch. Scheduled Dorset 751. <3>

Grange Arch. A folly built by Dennis Bond before 1746. It is a triple arch built of ashlar. It was designed as an "eye catcher" to be seen from Creech Grange. <4>

Grange Arch is as described. Well preserved. Published 1:2500 survey correct. <5>

Grange or Creech Arch is a central arched opening surmounted by crenellations and flanked by lower wing walls. The folly was built before 1746 by Denis Bond. <6>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 91258177) Grange Arch (NAT) National Trust (NAT)

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 271 (Monograph). SDO149.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 271 (Monograph). SDO149.

<3> Department of the Environment, 1978, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England (Vol 2), 16-17 (Monograph). SWX1687.

<4> Department of the Environment, 1984, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Purbeck 1984 (Scheduling record). SDO19622.

<5> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F1 MJF 23-APR-1986 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<6> English Heritage, 2005, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England: Dorset (Revised) (Monograph). SDO17438.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457054 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 22 2024 4:33PM