Summerhouse and Grotto
When taking in the impressive garden conservatories, don't overlook this understated, smaller building at the end of the same terrace. The initial focal point of the Summerhouse is a small rotunda in the style of a Grecian temple, but descend the staircase that wraps around the structure and you will discover that it has an additional surprise, revealing a fairytale grotto below, at the head of the Yew Arches.
The Summerhouse was completed at the same time as the neighbouring Conservatories, to complete the layout of the terrace. Originally the alcove beneath the Summerhouse was designed to have a smooth, classical arched appearance, but at some point, likely in the late 1800s, the interior was embedded with rustic rockwork, creating the fairytale grotto we see today.
Then and Now
| Then (c. 1906): | Now (2020): |
|---|---|
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The cluster of buildings around the Summerhouse have created a rather consistent backdrop over the years, which are unmistakable despite the thinning out of the greenery in the more recent picture. One of the more notable differences is the removal of decorative metal work, which was lost during the war years, from both the roof of the conservatories and the window of the Summerhouse, which also seems to be glazed in the picture for the 1930s postcard.
