Former Banqueting Tower, about 300m SE of Orielton Field Centre

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on S edge of walled part of estate, approached by farm track running E from West Orielton Lodge.

Exterior

Early to mid C18 belvedere tower, formerly with banqueting room. Rubble stone, red brick and Bath stone dressings. Massive three-storey square plan tower in early Georgian style. Squat roughcast ground floor with broad camber-headed carriage arches N and S, cut stone voussoirs and raised keystone. Upper floors are red brick with Bath stone alternating quoins, two red brick string-courses with raised Bath stone angle blocks and large window openings in rusticated surrounds with flat ashlar heads and raised keystones. Stone sills. Stone string-course under high brick parapet with ashlar angle piers and moulded ashlar coping. E side is windowless and ivy-clad, first-floor blank opening visible; N front is also obscured by ivy. Indications of roughcast over brickwork on first floor E, and of a gabled low building running E from E wall.

Interior

Roofless and floorless but has remnants of fielded plaster panels and corner fireplaces.

Reason for designation

Included at Grade II* as one of the most important folly buildings in SW Wales; apparently already derelict by mid C19, but described as a banqueting tower in estate sale documents. The brick and stone detail may echo that of the main house described, before the 1810 remodelling, as being of brick and stone.

Group value with other listed items at West Orielton and Orielton Field Centre.