Gates, gatepiers and railings to Jordans' Park

Summary

The gates, gatepiers and railings date probably to the early 19th century and formed the west entrance to Jordans, a late-18th century house that was demolished in the 1960s. They are of considerable quality, with a distinctive design and ornate decoration to the ironwork.

Reasons for Designation

The gates, gatepiers and railings at the west entrance to Jordans’ Park, which date probably from the early C19, are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Degree of architectural interest:

* as a decorative early-C19 gateway with Ham stone piers and ornate wrought-iron gates and box piers;
* the distinctive design has strong architectural character, and it is well executed.

Group value:

* with the Grade II* listed grotto/summerhouse, the cottage ornée and the north gateway which are both listed at Grade II. Together these surviving estate structures illustrate the former grandeur of Jordans, the late-C18 house that was demolished in the 1960s.

History

From 1655 until the mid-C20 Jordans was the home of the Spekes, a notable Somerset family. Their mansion was built in 1796 to replace an earlier house, and it stood within ornamental gardens with parkland beyond. The house became a school in the mid-C20 but was demolished in 1964. The stables building was retained and converted to a dwelling.

The west entrance to Jordans dates probably from the early C19. Although more elaborate in composition, its stone gatepiers are identical to those forming the north entrance (Grade II) on Cad Road some 1.1km to the north-east. This other entrance continues to serve Rowland’s Farm (Grade II*), one of Jordans' former estate farms.

Details

Gatepiers, gates and railings, probably early C19.

MATERIALS: constructed of Ham stone and cast and wrought iron.

DESCRIPTION: a pair of wrought-iron gates elaborately decorated with open scrollwork which hang from cast-iron openwork box piers that are similarly decorated. The piers are capped with scrolled cresting and urn finials. The gates are flanked by cast-iron spearhead railings with dog bars, and a pedestrian gate in the south section. The two flanking Ham stone gatepiers are square in section and have moulded plinths, banded rustication pecked with rosettes and other motifs, and a frieze of swags and ribbons in relief. There are moulded, pyramidal coping stones. Attached to the outer face of the gatepiers are curved lengths of lower spearhead railings which terminate at low openwork box pilers that have scrolled cresting and an urn finial.

Sources

Websites
Jordans, Ilminster, Somerset. Parks & Gardens , accessed 18 March 2025 from https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/jordans
Jordan’s Estate of Somerset , accessed 230 May 2025 from https://www.jordansestate.co.uk/history/
List Entry Number: 1057098, National Heritage List for England, accessed 11 June 2025 from ENTRANCE GATEWAY, ABOUT 370 METRES NORTH-NORTH-WEST OF ROWLAND'S FARMHOUSE, Ashill - 1057098 | Historic England
Site 46948 Main gates, Jordans Park, Ashill, accessed 11 June 2025 from https://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/46948#

End of official list entry