Gate lodges are amongst the most attractive of all small buildings, full of architectural style to reflect the grand country houses whose entrances they guard. They are easy to spot, nearly all being sited alongside public roads, and they survive in surprisingly large numbers. They are a treasure, both for the appeal of the buildings themselves and for their many historical associations. Yet they are not much studied and not much appreciated, a serious omission from architectural history.

This book fills the gap, for Wiltshire at least, with a comprehensive study of all the county’s 300 plus lodges. Preliminary chapters describe how gate lodges came about, their architecture and how they developed over time. The lodges to the great estates are described in the context of estate history; a tour of the county highlights many of the most interesting other lodges, and further chapters discuss the lodges to cemeteries, as well as providing insights into the life of the gate lodge keeper. Backing this up is a comprehensive gazetteer for the county, describing every lodge, locating it by parish and grid reference, and giving known details of its history.

Wiltshire is well provided with gate lodges and has some of the country’s best: with this copiously illustrated book the reader will be equipped not only to understand much more about their history and architecture but also to set out to explore these fascinating and often delightful buildings.

Published by Hobnob Press for the Wiltshire Buildings Record