Iron Court, West Lawn, Petworth Park

Record ID:  3010990 / MNA178090
Record type:  Monument
Protected Status: None Recorded
NT Property:  Petworth House and Park; London and South East
Civil Parish:  None Recorded
Grid Reference:  SU 9754 2189
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Summary

The 6th Duke's 'Iron Court' part of the formal gardens at the West front of the House in the early 18th century, first shown on 1706 mapping. Removed as part of Capability Brown's remodelling of the Park (1753-1762). Largely destroyed as a result of 18th century landscaping, though excavations have indicated the survival of drains, paths, courtyard surfaces and flower beds at a shallow depth beneath the turf.

Identification Images (0)

Monument Types

  • FORECOURT (Early 18th C to Mid 18th C - 1706 AD to 1752 AD)

Description

The 6th Duke's 'Iron Court' part of the formal gardens at the West front of the House in the early 18th century, first shown on 1706 mapping (1). Exposed brickwork in the bank of the north bastion of the ha-ha, possibly related to this feature, was noted during field survey. The Iron Court occupied an area of c. 65mx80m directly to the West of the House, and was formed from a lawn with a circular central carriageway and footpaths around the edges (2). The boundary of the Iron Court comprised ornamental iron fencing with smaller pedestrian gateways on the North (leading to the Parterre) and South (to the 'outward court' and Kitchen Gardens (6)) sides and a larger iron gateway entrance on the West side as a continuation of the main E-W path across the Quarter Piece Lawns (3). Removed as part of Capability Brown's remodelling of the Park (1753-1762) (4). The boundary of the Iron Court is visible on lidar data as a very slight, spread bank (5).

References

  • SNA65445 - Illustration: Anon. 1710. View of the West Front of Petworth House.

  • SNA65450 - Cartographic materials: Hutchinson. 1706. Petworth Grand Avenue.

  • SNA65451 - Cartographic materials: Uncertain. 1749. Occular Draught of Home Park.

  • SNA65452 - Cartographic materials: Uncertain. 1751. Survey of Home Park.

  • SNA65453 - Cartographic materials: Capability Brown. 1752. Plan for Petworth Park.

  • SNA65461 - Digital Image: Environment Agency. 2010. LiDAR 2m. 2m Resolution.

Designations

None Recorded

Other Statuses and References

None Recorded

Associated Events

  • ENA6979 - Heritage Assessment, Petworth Park Community Archaeology Project
  • ENA7057 - Field Survey, PETWORTH PARK ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT, FIELD WALKING SURVEY

Associated Finds

None Recorded

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