The Upper Bridge

[Capability] Brown changed the direction of the approach to the house and merged the five separate pools into the central lake, which he crossed with two new bridges. The Upper Bridge of 1770, guarded by four lead sphinxes, is thought to have been designed either by Brown or by architect Robert Adam.*

Sphinx

Cobwebs

*From the Compton Verney Grounds leaflet.

10 Comments CherryPie on Mar 19th 2013

10 Responses to “Compton Verney – The Upper Bridge”

  1. Lisl says:

    Those are very shapely Sphinxes, Cherie. Looks a goo place to visit

  2. That’s a very nice bridge but I think those sphinxes would put me off… The head of a woman, muscles like a man and the claws of a very big cat. A perfect storm?

    • CherryPie says:

      Hmm… I hadn’t thought of them like that, but now you mention it!! It rather reminds me of the thee Billy Goats Gruff – You Will Not Pass!!

  3. Claude says:

    Amazing! The past was always so fond of sculptures. On and in all buildings, in gardens, in public parks, entering cities…Good photos, Cherie.

  4. Bernard says:

    That second picture down looks as if the Sphinx is about to give us
    a full chord of A major. :)
    Perhaps – as they are made of lead ! (really?) – the music is undoubtedly –
    “Heavy Metal” :(

    • CherryPie says:

      Now I have looked at that picture again I think you could be right on both parts!!

      It is a good job I wasn’t tuned into that thought on the day or I might not have crossed the bridge and explored the house ;-)