MEM22348 - Retaining wall at Alford Terrace, Lynton (Building)

Retaining wall with arched gateway, gate, and steps. c1845. Rubble, slate steps, wrought-iron gate. The wall, rising to approx 3.5m height at the left, with horizontal top, but the access path sloping up to the right, retains the terrace garden to Alford House Hotel (qv). At the left-hand end, set in to deep reveals, is a 4-panel part-glazed door under a 3-pane transom light, set on 3 steps; this gives to a passageway (blocked at time of survey) to the basement of the property. To the right is a rough arched opening with wrought-iron gate with thin bars and dog-bars, to fleur-de-lys or flattened spearheads, opening to a landing on one step, with retaining wall to the right, and with a flight of 10 slate steps rising to the left, behind the retaining wall, and to a further retainer to its right. Included for group value. [1] The wall (up to 3.5 metres in height) retains the terrace garden to the hotel, and there is a rough arched opening with wrought iron gate and flight of slate steps. [2] The house and walls were visited in April 2012 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. The wall received a BAR score of 4A. [3] The wall is mentioned in the 2019 Conservation Area Appraisal for Lynton. [4] The wall was assessed as part of the 2018-19 rapid condition survey of Exmoor’s Listed Buildings, receiving a BAR score of 5A. [5]