Latitude: 53.3393 / 53°20'21"N
Longitude: -3.3455 / 3°20'43"W
OS Eastings: 310510
OS Northings: 383330
OS Grid: SJ105833
Mapcode National: GBR 5Y2T.HP
Mapcode Global: WH769.LB4C
Plus Code: 9C5R8MQ3+PR
Entry Name: Grotto adjoining Folly Tower at Talacre Abbey
Listing Date: 2 April 1987
Last Amended: 30 April 2001
Grade: II*
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 563
Building Class: Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
ID on this website: 300000563
Location: In woodland on the SE side of the house, and S of the Folly Tower.
County: Flintshire
Community: Llanasa
Community: Llanasa
Locality: Talacre
Traditional County: Flintshire
Tagged with: Grotto
Talacre Abbey was built 1824-9 by Thomas Jones, architect, for Sir Edward Mostyn, on the site of an earlier house. The grotto was added to the gardens in final quarter of the C19 and is first shown on the 1899 Ordnance Survey. The adjacent folly tower is earlier, built in the third quarter of the C19.
Built partly into the natural rock, and partly using rubble and mortar to create a rock-cut appearance. The grotto has 3 well-hewn entrances, while its interior has a central chamber open to the sky, and passages with niches, carved seats and a number of carved grotesque figures in the walls. The chief of these is inside the lower entrance, and comprises a heraldic lion (representing the Mostyn family) with its mouth open, and openings at its back for lighting fires that would send flames and smoke from the lion's mouth.
Listed grade II* as an especially notable example of a Romantic grotto retaining original grotesque carvings, and as an important component of the pleasure grounds at Talacre Abbey.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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