Piercefield House.
Piercefield House is a Grade II* listed building, built by Soane for George Smith in 1785-93. One of his early works, here Soane moved towards an ultrasophisticated, stripped-down Classicism with only the shallowest relief. The house has been empty and disintegrating since the Second World War, and is now on the edge of collapse – only four roofless walls and two pavilions that were once attached to the house by wings remain standing. The wings were designed by Joseph Bonomi, who came to England to work for the Adam Brothers and is alluded to as a fashionable architect in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Contained within the Soane shell is the substantial core of an earlier Baroque house. Part is visible as a freestanding wing at the back with giant Ionic pilasters and arched windows. More is revealed inside Soane's shell, where wall plaster has fallen away to reveal Baroque quoins, windows and niches. Part of Chepstow Racecourse, it was bought by property developers the Reuben Brothers in 2006, when they purchased Northern Racing. Some temporary repairs were carried out on the house as holding measures a few years ago, but these are now in need of replacement. A handsome set of stables rots beside the house.
Press release issued by SAVE Britain’s Heritage, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ.
Click to "Follow in the footsteps of the Wye Tourists and discover the picturesque viewpoints of Piercefield Park."
IInteresting Link.
Flyovers
We started the walk through an old brick arched entranc situated on the B4293. If coming from the roundabout, it is just before the first turning on the left into The Cloisters. We parked in the first street opposite on the right, which happened to be Piercefield Avenue.
The walk heads through the arch into a short forest walk leading down to a big wooden gate. Walk entrance is just on the right. Heading through the gate takes you into a large expanse of ground with dips and dales or there is a path to follow. Sheep casually chilling and roaming about....Luckily it was spring and there were quite a few baby lambs jumping about. Few photos taken lol. When we reached the house it was in such a delapidated conditioned it saddened me. The whole place was surrounded with 8ft tall metal safety railings. We did manage to gain access through the rear and had a climb through what was left. Not a lot.
We spent a few hours wandering around taking photos and Googling info about the House.
I have added a bit of info,links and location info, hopes this helps a little bit.
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Happy exploring!!
THE PIERCEFIELD WALKS AND ASSOCIATED PICTURESQUE LANDSCAPE FEATURES:
AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
By K Murphy
THE PIERCEFIELD WALKS 4 Illustration 1. The 1801 Coxe map of Piercefield.
Photo. 1. The Alcove with modern bench inside the historic structure.
Photo. 2. The Platform from below showing the revetment wall of the abandoned path. Photo. 3. The approach to The Grotto from the south.
Photo. 4. The Approach to the Giant’s Cave from the south.
Photo. 5. The Cold Bath.
