Building record 0440902003 - TERRACE WALL TO GARDEN

Grade I. C17 and C19. Very high terrace probably c1677 by William Winde and subsequently altered. Red brick, balustraded with cornice and centre piece of stone and cement. Double flight of stairs each side of rusticated stone archway with carved keystone. This centrepiece was altered by Barry cira 1851 and partly refaced in stone c1900. To each side 9 high bank arches of red brick with stone imposts and keystones. Outer ends, possibly added by Leoni c1730, have 3 arches of deeply rusticated red brick with voussiors and channelled piers. Stone imposts and keystones. Full entablature over with pulvinated frieze. The central archway and centre arches of end sections are filled with fine late 19th iron gates by Singer of Frome. In chamber behind centre gates a marble Venus and elaborate marble fireplace and overmantel (B7).
Watching brief carried out by Oxford Archaeology in 1994. An exploratory trench was excavated in advance of consolidation work across the south terrace and the make-up layers of the terrace were recorded (B14).
Between April and June 2002, Oxford Archaeology carried out a watching brief during a programme of work to rectify structural problems with the 17th century terrace. The terrace is the only surviving structure of the house built for George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, between 1674-77. The terrace is some 75m long, 8m wide and 4m tall. It is of brick construction with 26 vaults carrying the weight. At the centre is a double flight of steps beneath which is a central chamber with stairs leading to site of the original building entrance. The central chamber was built outwards with rusticated stone. It is known that in 1912 the surface of the terrace was relaid and the skylights to the orangery replaced. The watching brief revealed that generally the terrace was in a sound condition. 19th century drains and a 19th century wall foundation were uncovered at the base of the terrace (B13).
Two sections of brick wall identified at the western end of the terrace during a watching brief. Walls are parallel to the current terrace and likely represent the original extent. Two walls were also located to the south-west of the terrace wall. Wall (3004) was 1 brick wide and interprerted as a garden wall. Near to this wall was an area of chalk and brick rubble, thought to be the foundations of another wall. These two features may relate to a staircase shown on historic maps. Removal of yew trees from the corners of the south terrace revealed an L-shaped arrangement of in situ brickwork within the south-eastern tree throw. The brickwork stood ten courses high (0.73m), and 0.41m wide. It is thought that this wall represents the original north wall of the south terrace. Wall was constructed with coursed unfrogged red bricks boned with a lime mortar. It was constructed using English Garden Wall bonding, along with a more random mix of headers and stretchers (B25).