Tea House and bridge at TL522 385, north-west of Audley End House (EHER 405)

The Tea House Bridge is a Palladian bridge and summer house, situated in the grounds of Audley End House. It was built in 1783 to the designs of Robert Adam. It is constructed of ashlar and stucco with a lead roof. The bridge is of a single span, surmounted by wrought iron railings and two rows of four Ionic columns with a flat roof. The summerhouse is situated behind the footway. A demolition chamber was constructed during the Second World War immediately to its west.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 405 and 26845. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Tea Br (NAT). <1> A small Palladian bridge with a tetrastyle Ionic temple summer house. Designed by Robert Adam, it was built about 1783 and is now known as the Tea House Bridge. <2> - <4> A Palladian bridge and summer house situated in the grounds of Audley End House, to the northwest of the house. Both were designed by Robert Adam and built in 1783, construction is of ashlar and stucco. The summer house has a lead roof. The bridge is of a single span, surmounted by wrought iron railings and two rows of four Ionic columns with a flat roof. The summerhouse is situated behind the footway. <5> <6> There is a photograph of the Tea House Bridge in the guidebook, which notes that 'a card table was kept in the house specifically for use at the bridge.' The Tea House Bridge is also marked on an illustrated plan of Audley Park in the back cover of the guidebook. <7> Audley End House and Gardens are listed in the English Heritage members' & visitors' handbook 2009/10. <8> See the illustrated plan in the front cover of the current (2010) guidebook for the location of the Tea House Bridge. <9> The Tea House Bridge is listed Grade I, and is one of the last remnants of the Elysian Garden, which was designed by Robert Woods and executed in the early 1780s by Placido Columbani. The Tea House Bridge was designed by Robert Adam (who also designed the Adam Bridge at Audley End) in about 1780. A set of concrete anti-tank cubes are located immediately behind the Tea Bridge. <10> June 1989. Field visit. As described by <1> <2>. <11> See also: <12> - <15>