Summary

This magnificent structure is located in a hollow in the Pleasure Grounds, to the east of the mansion house. It was constructed between 1809-10 by Samuel Brown for Sir Henry Crewe. It is a half domed feature that is faced with a variety of Derbyshire minerals and artificial stalactitic flowstone.

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Description

There were formerly two grottoes on the Calke estate - this one within the lawns to the east of the mansion constructed by Samuel Brown, and another which is now located on land owned by Severn Water, to the north of China pond. The China pond grotto is a direct constrast to this grotto and although it forms a half dome structure, set into the bank, the interior is a brick shell which is simply plastered over - the China pond grotto is thought to have been constructed in the mid-18th century, and so is earlier than Brown's grotto, marking a distinct development of style.

[1] This structure is called the Grotto, built in 1809-10 by Samuel Browne for Sir Henry Crewe (Brown was a local architect who was also responsible for other (now lost) architectural features within the Calke estate). The grotto is faced in red brick and tufa. Rubble sandstone can be seen. This half domed structure is sunk into a hollow, with the remains of stalagmites and stalagtites. This semi-circular enclosure is formed of boulders and rubblestone in the front. A curved path leads down to the grotto. This has two rustic arches of rubblestone. It is probably an important feature of the Pleasure Ground (Rayner, H. 1988: 102-104, Vol 1).

The architect Samuel Brown designed three gothic features within the Calke Abbey pleasure gardens between 1809 and 1810. The Grotto is the only monument of the three that has survived, the Cascade and Gothic bridge having been lost beneath the Stauton Harold Reservoir which was constructed in 1956-8.

[2-5] Brown's grotto is a domed structure, grass covered, and rises to a height of 4.7 m from the base of the structure which is flooded and appears to be fed by a lead pipe at the back of the dome. The stone walls reveting the hollow rise to a height of 2.2 m. The presence of a metal hinge within the passage suggests that at one time it held a metal gate (this has now [2012] been recovered from storage and reinstated), whilst the top of the vault formerly supported a metal fence which has since been removed (Marshall, G. 1988: 119, Vol 1).

[6] In 2006 a small-scale excavation was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology at the end of the Grotto pool to establish in terminus and to investigate the possibility that steps may have led down to the grotto. The investigation revealed the brick lining of the pool at its NE end, which comprised a two ring arch. To the south of this was a brick-lined sump to allow the pool to drain to a set level. The excavations established that the grotto surround was an earth floor, fortified by gravel, with no steps or visible path leading to the Grotto (Birmingham Archaeology, 2006: 6-9).

[7] In 2009 a historic building survey was undertaken by AOC Archaeology of the grotto structure to provide a record of this fragile structure. The survey included a full laser scan and photographic record.

[8] The Grotto follows a well-established practice of 18th century grotto construction in pleasure grounds, though this one is unusual in being rather larger than most, and sited in a hollow, rather than in a hillside. The 'natural effect' has been taken a stage further than most, introducing stalactites of considerable length, secured on wrought iron pins, instead of the more usual shells and deeply recessed tufa stone. For sheer scale and ambition, this grotto should be better known.

[9] In 2024 National Trust Archaeology volunteers identified that there is a watercolour by G. R. Vawser (signed and dated 1860) that appears to depict Brown's Grotto. This painting is located within the house at Calke Abbey and its reference number within the National Trust's Collections is NT 292835.1

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