Description

SP 5801 GARSINGTON SOUTHEND
(West side)
11/59 Pool, summer-house and
statuary approx 60 metres
south of Manor House.
GV II

Formal pool, summer-house and 9 statues on pedestals. Circa 1920. Created
for Philip and Lady Ottoline Morrell. Large rectangular pool in a dressed
limestone basin with a central rectangular stone-paved island, set across
the garden (south) axis of the house. Painted wooden summer-house, known as
The Temple (centre east) has the doorway flanked by small openings set between
4 simple pilasters beneath a rustic entablature and triangular pediment. It
was brought from the Morrells former country house at Peppard. Round the sides
of the pool are 8 full-length standing stone figures on stone
pedestals set in recesses in a yew hedge. A further statue is on the island.
In clockwise order they are:-
a) East: Male, girdled with a vine and holding a shield-shaped tablet. Base
inscribed "....VROR POETICUS ". Square pedestal with moulded base and cornice
and front panel.
b) East: Partly-draped female with bee-hive(?). Base inscribed "THEO..."
Pedestal as (a).
c) South: Partly-draped female with quiver. Fluted cylindrical pedestal with
moulded base and cornice.
d) South: Partly-draped male (Vulcan) with hammer and anvil. One foot
replaced. Very fine work. Square pedestal with moulded base and cornice and
panelled sides.
e) South: Partly-draped female. Parts of both arms detached. Pedestal as (c).
f) West: Nude female holding branch. Square pedestal with moulded base and
cornice.
g) West: Partly draped figure. Pedestal as (f).
h) North: Figure on square pedestal.
i) Island: Reclining female on oval pedestal ornamented with festoons and mask.
The pool forms the focus of the elaborate Italian garden laid out by the
Morrells with the assistance of Philip Tylden. It was formed from a medieval
fishpond. Many well known artists and writers were frequent visitors during the
Morrells' occupancy (1915-28) and some, conscientious objectors, were
employed as workmen durng the First World War.
(Buildings of England : Oxfordshire, p.612; R. Ingrams, Garsington Manor,
(privately printed)).

Listing NGR: SP5822201902

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26299834

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)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)