Description

SX 69 NE SOUTH TAWTON

1/180 Steps and terrace walls around
tennis lawn south-west of
Wood House
GV II*

Steps and terrace walls. 1899-1905 by Thomas Mawson. Plain granite steps, low
granite rubble walls made from chosen pieces made to look like crazy paving and with
flat-topped granite ashlar coping; granite ashlar seat.
Plan and description: the tennis lawn is terraced into the hillside facing north-
east. Most of the banks around it are of earth surmounted by low box yew hedges but
the bottom one (onto the forecourt) and the right one looking up from the house
(onto the rear service drive) are revetted with granite walls. From the centre of
the forecourt (called by Mawson the carriage court), a flight of stone steps lead up
to the first short terrace which begins the crazy-paved granite path around the
tennis lawn. Plain stone steps lead up all the terraces and at the right (north-
western) end of the top one is a round-backed stone seat.
These features associated with the tennis lawn are part of an extensive landscaping
scheme conceived by Mawson to go with the rebuilding of Wood House (q.v.). Mawson
himself considered the whole scheme as one-of his major achievements.
Source: T H Mawson The Art and Craft of Garden Making, (5th edition) includes
copious notes and illustrations of Wood House.

Listing NGR: SX6545096020

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537163

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)