Name: Scotts Grotto
Rating: 5.0

Scotts Grotto

28/34 Scotts Rd, Ware SG12 9JJ, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Website

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Description

Scott’s Grotto is a magical place of rooms and passages clad in a variety of shells, fossils and other materials. The passages extend over 20 metres into the chalk hillside with the deepest chamber being some 10 metres below the hilltop.

It was built in the 1760’s by local poet John Scott, a “most active and public spirited man”. Restored in 1990 an entrance porch was added, to replace the original which had been demolished, and lighting of the main chamber installed. Other than this the Grotto remains today much as Scott intended.

Prices starts from minimum entrance fee of £2.00 per adult, children admitted free, is requested which is put towards the maintenance of this historic site. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Virtual Tour: Welcome to this virtual tour of Scott’s Grotto which is set within the last remaining part of John Scott’s Garden. The Grotto and Summerhouse are located in the south western corner of the garden now on the west side of Scotts Road.
The Scott family, who were wealthy Quakers, moved from Bermondsey to Ware in 1740 to Amwell House which John’s father Samuel had purchased some eighteen years previously. The whole estate comprised some 27 acres at that time. Over some years Samuel carried out a major extension to the original red brick building extending both the ground floor and adding a first floor and servant’s quarters above.
John Scott was Samuel’s youngest son. He is mainly remembered today for his poetry but in his time he was a commentator on and influencer of political policy. He was an outspoken critic of the Poor Law, wrote political pamphlets and was an important figure in the Turnpike movement.
In the 1760’s, John Scott, landscaped the grounds of Amwell House to create a formal ‘rococo’ garden of over 6 acres with many summerhouses, rustic seats and ‘piles of stones’. Its culmination was the Grotto, cut into the chalk hillside very much the fashion of the time, the design probably in imitation of Alexander Pope’s grotto at Twickenham. It is believed that construction of the Grotto was started around 1761 and there is evidence to suggest that Scott was still adding to it in 1766.
Little is known about the layout of the garden in Scott’s time as only later plans exist. The one shown is based on the 10 ft. to the mile map of 1851 in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, the location of the Grotto is outlined in red. The parallel lines on the left were drawn in after1863 to show the location of the new Scotts Road.
The land has been sold off gradually for housing but the Grotto and Summerhouse, together with some of the land has been retained, although in the 1960’s there were plans to build two houses on the site. The Grotto is now Grade I listed so secure from further development.

Facilities

Parking: The nearest car park is shown on the map in Broadmeads, (SG12 9HX) a five minute walk away.

What to see

Events:

Monster Mania: Monster Mania at Scott’s Grotto. Easter Monday April 21st from 10.00 to 16.00. Entrance £2.00 per person. Win a Mini-Monster.
Leaside Christmas Tree Festival: Scott’s Grotto had a Christmas Tree at the Leaside Christmas Tree Festival as part of Ware’s Dickensian evening.
Mischief Monday: Announcing our opening date for 2024 and once again the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters are yarnbombing the Grotto!! Due to the early Easter this year we aren’t able to do an egg hunt however our Mischief Monday will be lots of fun for the family. Hope to see you there on the 1 April!
The Drum: At the end of April 2023 we held an event to celebrate the installation of a memorial to mark the life and work of John Scott, poet and builder of the Grotto.

For more information please visit: https://scotts-grotto.org/events

Website

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

A minimum entrance fee of £2.00 per adult, children admitted free, is requested which is put towards the maintenance of this historic site.

For more information please visit: https://scotts-grotto.org/visit

Pricing URL: https://scotts-grotto.org/visit

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Scott's Grotto is now closed for the winter, re-opens April 4th 2026.
Scott’s Grotto is open on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2.00pm to 4.30pm between 1st April and 30th September.

Time may vary please check here: https://scotts-grotto.org/visit

Address: 28/34 Scotts Rd, Ware SG12 9JJ, UK

Post Code: SG12 9JQ

Council: East Hertfordshire

County: Hertfordshire

Location: The Grotto is situated in a residential road but parking is allowed on single yellow lines at weekends, the nearest car park is shown on the map in Broadmeads, (SG12 9HX) a five minute walk away. Please note the car parks shown in Walton Road are not accessible to members of the public.
Parking: The nearest car park is shown on the map in Broadmeads, (SG12 9HX) a five minute walk away.