Prospect Tower
At the head of the valley, the Gothic Prospect Tower overlooks the gardens and offers stunning views back towards the Towers. Whilst it is no longer possible to climb the tower, the views from the terrace at its foot still offers impressive views of the rest of the Garden, with a glimpse of the house beyond.
Designed by Robert Abraham and formed of cast iron and stone, the three-story structure has had many colour schemes over the years. Originally, however, one of the most striking features of the building were it gilt window frames, which no doubt made the Prospect Tower even more striking than it appears today.
The Prospect Tower had an extensive restoration in 2015/16, by which point the structure had fallen into quite a state of disrepair and had been identified by English Heritage as a priority for restoration. The subsequent work breathed a new lease of life into the Prospect Tower, reinstating several lost features, including copies of the original railings on the upper floor, which were lost during the war period.
Thompson's Rock
The Prospect Tower sits upon Thompson's Rock, a natural promontory along the line of the valley. As you descend the steps from the tower, you can see a cave hollowed out from the rock, known as the Bear Cave. This cave was said to once be home to a black bear, which guests could see as they toured the gardens. After the bear died, he was stuffed and became one of the decorations in the house.
Nearby the Bear Cave, you can also find the remains of a large serpent's head, which was one of many sculptures found in the garden carved directly out of the sandstone rocks. Only faint remains of the serpent design can be seen today, but according to Loundon it originally would have been adorned with 'a spear-shaped iron tongue and glass eyes!'
Then and Now
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In the 1950s, it was still possible for guests to climb the Prospect Tower and enjoy the same view as the Earls enjoyed all those years ago. Whilst that experience is no longer possible today, it cannot be denied that the Prospect Tower looks better today following a renovation in 2016. The tower has now been returned to close to its original colour scheme, with reproduction railings showing it closer to its intended design.
