Details
BRENTWOOD
TQ69SW THE AVENUE
723-1/9/123 (East side)
21/10/58 Lion Lodge North, Lion Lodge South
and Lion Gates with railings
II
Formerly known as: The Lion Gates with railings and Lion Lodge
South. Lion Lodge North THORNDON PARK.
Ornamental gates and lodges to Thorndon Hall (qv). Probably by
James Paine, who designed the hall, in 1764. Later C18
stuccoed brick square pavilions flank the gateway. The central
iron gates were removed in the 1939-45 war but a side
pedestrian gate and railings remain. The cast-iron gate
stanchions have guilloche decoration and urn finials, the
upper rails have pendant flowers. The gate piers are
rectangular, rusticated stone with rams' head swagged friezes,
cornices and surmounting reclining lions. Each of the 2
pavilions is 2 storeyed with pyramidal slated roof and central
stack, second stack rises from outer face. E and W fronts have
a single window range, windows set in semicircular arched
recesses. The tympana of the arches on the W front have
ornamental roundels, a male and female head with hoe and snake
respectively. There is a plain string course between floors
with sash window below with glazing bars, 4x4 panes, N flat
head and 2 upper panes now coalesced, S segment headed. Rear,
E faces of pavilions have similar elevations but a first floor
segment headed window, sash with glazing bars, 3x2 panes in
place of the roundels. The inner N and S elevation (abutting
the gate piers) each have a ground floor doorway. Doors, S,
C19, 6 flush beaded panels, N, C20 6 panelled door with
included fanlight. First floors have a single window, both
casements with glazing bars, N, flat headed, S, segment
headed. Outer N and S faces of pavilions both partly obscured
by brick C19 ground floor additions. (Original pavilion plinth
continues into junction). Pavilion first floor, N has 2
windows with glazing bars, one 3x2 paned casement and one 3x2
paned sash. S has 2 segment headed windows with glazing bars,
one 3x2 paned sash and one 2x2 paned casement. Ground floor
additions stuccoed with slated roofs. N pavilion - 2 window
range to N, central stack, windows segment headed sashes,
smaller plain extension further to N, rear, has C20 flat
roofed extension with C20 door and C20 triple window with
glazing bars and side casements, in total 4x3 panes, minor
addition has C20 contiguous extension with C20 window with
glazing bars, 1x3 panes. N end elevation, three C20 single
light casements and plain C20 door with glazed panel. S
pavilion addition to S similar to N pavilion but front
elevation has single sash window and minor addition has a
hipped roof. Rear has 2 segment headed sash windows and in
minor addition C20 door with upper glazing and lower recessed
panel. S end elevation, C20 single light window and hipped
porch to original block with C20 door with upper glazing and
lower boarded panel.
HISTORICAL NOTE: the park was used as an army camp prior to
D-Day and the gates were removed (and subsequently lost) to
allow wide vehicles through. The central stack of the N
pavilion is false and sits on a high brick arch. It is said
that, when hunting was still in progress, deer were hung under
this arch and the S pavilion was used for refreshments.
Listing NGR: TQ6047691507
