Montacute House in Somerset was built c.1598, a time when the main influence on English architecture was changing from Gothic to Renaissance. The west elevation, above, and the flanking walls have classically-inspired columns and an overall symmetry but the prevalence of the principal orders of architecture cannot be seen. The windows look backwards rather than forwards, and the Dutch gables show the influence of Flanders rather than Italy. When Montacute was built this was the entrance elevation and instead of a lawn there would have been a carriage turning circle.
A large house such as this needed gatehouse lodges and the South Lodge is a marvellous example of how the grandeur of the main house could be announced by the imposing architecture of the ancillary buildings.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
