Description

SP 7216-7316
10/132

WADDESDON
WADDESDON MANOR GROUNDS
The Aviary

GV
II
Aviary. 1889, for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, restored 1960-66. Cast iron, metal lattice and wire mesh. Crescent-shaped with central and end pavilions.

Rococo in style with slender cast iron shafts and lattice work pilasters dividing bays, and upper borders with elaborate scrolls and shell motifs. Curving ranges of cages, each of four bays, have roof in form of a pointed barrel vault, mesh to front pitch, enclosed to rear.

End pavilions have shallow metal domes, slightly arched over each side. Central pavilion has glazed dome and rear wall of ashlar in form of grotto with wide segmental niche for fountain, piers with shaggy rustication, and tall flanking shell niches. Fountain has carved marble figure of Minerva, early C18 of Italian origin, reclining on rocks of tufa, with flanking marble tritons. Shell niches contain C17 Italian carved marble figures of a triton and a nereid sitting on twisted conch shells. Aviary has attached flanking walls of ashlar, the end piers with moulded capitals and bases.

Listing NGR: SP7310716547

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26453065

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

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)