Deercote, Sudbury Park

The Deercote in Sudbury Park is a deercote or folly, built in the 18th century on the Sudbury Hall estate, near the village of Sudbury in Derbyshire, England. It is a National Trust property,^[1] and is a Grade II* listed building.^[2]

The deercote was built about 1720–23, of red brick with sandstone dressings. There is a curtain wall on the north, south and west sides.^[3]

It is in the grounds of Sudbury Park, a site of about 150 hectares (370 acres), and is situated about 420 metres (1,380 ft) north-east of the Hall; the space between is crossed by the A50 road built in the late 20th century.^[4]

It can be seen in a painting in Sudbury Hall by Nicholas Thomas Dall, showing the view north from the Hall about 1748. The four corner towers, with parapets and ogee roofs, are visible above a line of trees; the gatehouse had not yet been added.^[1]

The deer park was created in 1614 by Mary Vernon.^[5] The structure, of which the architect is unknown, was originally intended as an enclosure for the management of the deer herd, with high walls to prevent deer from leaping out; there was a central building, probably a deer barn.^[1][3]

The parkland was remodelled in the mid 18th century. The work is attributed to Sanderson Miller; the deercote was modified, probably to provide a dramatic detail to the view north from the Hall. The ogee roofs were removed from the corner towers, and in the centre of the south side a building was added with the appearance of a gatehouse, with archway, windows and turrets, if viewed from the south, but plain from the north. The curtain wall on this side has a row of open Gothic arches, and is castellated, and the plain wall on the west side is castellated.^[1][2][3]

• Listed buildings in Sudbury, Derbyshire