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Alternative preliminary designs and a record drawing for the pyramid gate, 1776, Adam volume 51/73 as executed (3)

The pyramid gate, sometimes called the obelisk lodge, Featherstone lodge, sphinx gate or needle’s eye is located on the northern boundary of the park. This was once the most important entrance to the park, leading north to Pontefract and York.

Adam volume 51/73 shows the design as it was executed. The design mimics the Tomb of Cestius in Rome, and includes a 43-foot high pyramid.

There are 14 extant Adam office drawings for various gateways within the private drawings collection of Lord St Oswald and the National Trust drawings collection at Nostell Priory. At least one of these is a finished drawing for the pyramid gate as executed.

The park, including the pyramid gate, was purchased by the National Trust in 2003. They immediately set about restoring this building as it had fallen into a ruinous state. The sculpted sphinxes were lost at an unknown date.
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