Shell Grotto, Shell grotto in Pontypool Park, Wales
The cylindrical structure features six supporting pillars with a conical roof, constructed from local red Pennant sandstone at an elevation of 205 meters.
The grotto was built before 1784 for the Hanbury family of iron masters, who commissioned it as a hunting lodge and summer retreat within their estate.
Thousands of shells, minerals, and animal bones form intricate patterns throughout the interior, including arcs, circles, stars, hearts, and diamond shapes on the floor.
The grotto requires visitors to walk steep, uneven paths through Pontypool Park, making access challenging for individuals with limited mobility.
The fan-vaulted ceiling contains artificial stalactites and natural calcite crystals, mixed with local and exotic shells such as mussels, cockles, and pearl oysters.
Location: Pontypool
Location: New Inn
Inception: 1784
Elevation above the sea: 205.1 m
GPS coordinates: 51.70310,-3.02270
Latest update: March 3, 2025 08:17
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