Shell Grotto, Pontypool

The grotto was commissioned by John Hanbury as a hunting lodge/summerhouse in the late 18th century. The Hanbury family were local ironmasters who owned Pontypool Park. During the early 19th century, Capel Hanbury Leigh (6 Oct 1776 - 28 Sep 1861) undertook renovations of the family house and park's grounds and it is thought that his wife Molly Ann (married 14 Apr 1797, she was the widow of Sir Robert Humphrey Mackworth (died 1794)) was responsible for the interior shell decoration. Although there is no direct evidence that the shell interior was Molly's invention, it is known that she was an avid collector of shells (and built another shell grotto near her home at Gnoll). The shell…

The grotto is constructed of local red Pennant sandstone and conical stone tiled with a fan vaulted roof (with six fans rising from six pillars) and the supporting pillars and ceiling are covered with thousands of shells interspersed with minerals and real stalactites removed from caves in the local area. The interior walls are mostly bare stone, with some embedded calcite crystals. The floor incorporates animal bones and teeth forming arcs, circles, stars, hearts and diamonds. The two remaining windows contain coloured glass.