IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hamstead Marshall, NEWBURY, RG20 0JG

Gate piers of Hamstead Marshall House, a major Berkshire mansion built in 1661-65 and destroyed by fire in 1718. They are of brick with stone scrolls and moulded cornices and date from the early C18th. Grade II* listed. Eight of the nine sets of gate piers stand in situ, indicating the extent of the former house and gardens. They are now a rather poignant sight, most of them isolated in the middle of fields and parkland like orphaned children. Pevsner described them as 'pathetic', others have described them as 'clumsy', 'the finest piers of their kind in England', and as expressing 'a sense of vanished magnificence'. The ninth set, which stood outside the main entrance, was moved in the late C18th to nearby Benham Park (Image]). Information partly from "Craven Country, the story of Hamstead Marshall" by Penelope Stokes. This set is plainer than the others, perhaps because it was further from the house and heralded a service entrance such as the stables.

Gate piers of Hamstead Marshall House, a major Berkshire mansion built in 1661-65 and destroyed by fire in 1718. They are of stone, with carved panels of fruit and flowers and topped by urns with carved festoons. Possibly designed by Edward Pierce or Thomas Strong in c1675. Grade I listed. Eight of the nine sets of gate piers stand in situ, indicating the extent of the former house and gardens. They are now a rather poignant sight, most of them isolated in the middle of fields and parkland like orphaned children. Pevsner described them as 'pathetic', others have described them as 'clumsy', 'the finest piers of their kind in England', and as expressing 'a sense of vanished magnificence'. The ninth set, which stood outside the main entrance, was moved in the late C18th to nearby Benham Park (Image]). Information partly from "Craven Country, the story of Hamstead Marshall" by Penelope Stokes. The adjacent late-C17th/early-C18th wall is convexly curved and punctuated by arched niches. Behind stands a beautiful Cedar of Lebanon.

Gate piers of Hamstead Marshall House, a major Berkshire mansion built in 1661-65 and destroyed by fire in 1718. They are of stone, with carved swags and topped by pineapples. Possibly designed by Edward Pierce or Thomas Strong in c1675. Grade I listed. Eight of the nine sets of gate piers stand in situ, indicating the extent of the former house and gardens. They are now a rather poignant sight, most of them isolated in the middle of fields and parkland like orphaned children. Pevsner described them as 'pathetic', others have described them as 'clumsy', 'the finest piers of their kind in England', and as expressing 'a sense of vanished magnificence'. The ninth set, which stood outside the main entrance, was moved in the late C18th to nearby Benham Park (Image]). Information partly from "Craven Country, the story of Hamstead Marshall" by Penelope Stokes. This set flank the entrance to a modern house built near the site of the old house.

The wall is part of the Craven House complex.

It is possible to do a short circular from the church along this private road, but public footpath.

Gate piers of Hamstead Marshall House, a major Berkshire mansion built in 1661-65 and destroyed by fire in 1718. They are of brick, with shell-headed niches and topped by urns. Designed by Edward Pierce in 1663. The far set of piers is this one: Image Grade I listed. Eight of the nine sets of gate piers stand in situ, indicating the extent of the former house and gardens. They are now a rather poignant sight, isolated in the middle of fields and parkland like orphaned children. Pevsner described them as 'pathetic', others have described them as 'clumsy', 'the finest piers of their kind in England', and as expressing 'a sense of vanished magnificence'. The ninth set, which stood outside the main entrance, was moved in the late C18th to nearby Benham Park (Image]). Information partly from "Craven Country, the story of Hamstead Marshall" by Penelope Stokes.

One of eight pairs of gate piers to be found close to St. Mary's church. Stephen Richards provides a concise history Image

The distinctive gate piers in the field next to the churchyard mark the former boundary of Hamstead Park

A view north along Park Lane from near to Craven House. The large brick walls are the boundary of Craven House.