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Summary

The Belvedere, a triangular building with corner towers, one containing remains of stair. Built in the late 18th century, damaged by fire mid 20th century, with repairs underway in early 21st century.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II*) 1000698: POWDERHAM CASTLE
• Listed Building (II*) 1306164: THE BELVEDERE

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1023998
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX98SE/12
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*): 85984
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX98SE (M)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TOWER (XVIII - 1771 AD to 1774 AD (Between))

Full description

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: North Devon, 248-9 (Monograph). SDV336196.

A triangular belvedere tower was erected in the grounds of Powderham Castle in 1773.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953 - 1980, SX98SE (M) (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV336418.

Devon Gardens Trust, 2003, Powderham (Reg/Local list of Historic Parks and Gdns). SDV336419.

English Heritage, 2006, Buildings at Risk: The Register 2006, 70 (Report - non-specific). SDV336311.

The Belvedere at Powderham Castle was suffering from slow decay in 2006. A solution had been agreed but not yet implemented.

English Heritage, 2006, Powderham (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV336417.

The Belvedere in the Powderham Castle Park. Date listed 11/11/1952. Ruinous. 1771-4, built for the 2nd Viscount Courtenay (Girouard). Flemish bond brick, rendered, with Portland stone dressings. Gothick, with refined detail. Plan: Overlooking the Exe estuary, triangular on plan with corner towers, one containing the remains of stair. Damaged by fire after the war and now a roofless shell, the original plan included a ballroom with ornamental plasterwork. The building was used as an estate cottage in the early 20th century. Exterior: 2 storeys. Embattled parapet above a deep moulded string, platband at first floor level, deep moulded stone plinth. Each of the 3 faces has a large moulded 2-centred arched stone doorway and a similar large first floor window. The corner towers have nicely-detailed quatrefoil windows with moulded stone frames on the ground floor and 2-centred arched first floor windows with moulded stone frames, some retaining sash windows (glazing missing) with intersecting glazing bars. Trefoil upper windows with moulded stone frames to the embattled towers which rise above the height of the main building. Interior: Gutted by fire and roofless. 2 of the towers are 6-sided internally, one retaining the remains of a cantilevered timber stair, the third tower is round on plan internally. No other surviving interior fittings except for the remains of a flagpole in a case, date uncertain. High quality 18th century Gothick. (Girouard, Mark, 'Powderham Castle, Devon - II', Country Life, July 11th 1963, p.4). Other details: LBS No 85984.

English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West, 111 (Report - non-specific). SDV342694.

Damaged by fire after the war and now a roofless shell. English Heritage grant aid has been offered towards repairs and the first phase of has been completed. Other details: Photograph.

English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West, 104 (Report - non-specific). SDV344777.

English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West, 108 (Report - non-specific). SDV355280.

With no prospect of a further phase of repairs being funded in the immediate future, the building remains at risk. Poor condition. Priority C (slow decau; no solution agreed).

Pink, F., 2014-2015, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Cox, J. + Thorp, J. R. L., 2016, Powderham Belvedere, Powderham, Devon: Level Two and Documentary Research (Report - Survey). SDV360172.

This recording was undertaken on behalf of the Powderham Estate regarding the Grade II* listed building Powderham Belvedere in 2016. Powderham Belvedere was erected 1771 - 1774. The Belvedere is an example of an aristocratic building type. The Powderham Belvedere was built for the second Viscount Courtnay (1742-88) between 1771 and 1774.

There can be no doubt that Powderham Belvedere stripped out and ruinous as it is, is an important element in Powderham Park. It has a significant place in the national history of superior park buildings and within the tradition of triangular towers built in an age that began the conscious connections between architecture and landscape.

The craftsmanship of the building is high quality: Portland stone is beautifully-worked and the penny pointing to the brickwork that was clearly intended to be visible at some stage during construction is a refined detail. In its current state Powderham Belvedere is externally legible but also has the character and thrill of a romantic ruin in a landscaped park. (See report for full details).

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336196	Monograph: Pevsner, N.. 1952. The Buildings of England: North Devon. The Buildings of England: North Devon. Paperback Volume. 248-9.
SDV336311	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2006. Buildings at Risk: The Register 2006. English Heritage Report. A4 Bound. 70.
SDV336417	List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest: English Heritage. 2006. Powderham. Historic Houses Register. Website.
SDV336418	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1953 - 1980. SX98SE (M). Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.
SDV336419	Reg/Local list of Historic Parks and Gdns: Devon Gardens Trust. 2003. Powderham. Historic Parks and Gardens - Devon Register Review. Unknown.
SDV342694	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2009. Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South West. English Heritage Report. A4 Bound +Digital. 111.
SDV344777	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2010. Heritage at Risk Register 2010: South West. English Heritage Report. Digital. 104.
SDV355280	Report - non-specific: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South West. english Heritage. Digital. 108.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014-2015. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV360172	Report - Survey: Cox, J. + Thorp, J. R. L.. 2016. Powderham Belvedere, Powderham, Devon: Level Two and Documentary Research. Keystone. K/885. Digital.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7260 - Level Two Recording and Documentary Research: Powderham Belvedere, Powderham, Devon (Ref: K/885)

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