'Pure nymph' of Somerset's pyramid

When you think of pyramids in Somerset, the one that immediately comes to mind is of the legendary Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

But Somerset actually has two others, Claverton in Bath and Halswell Park near Bridgwater.

The pyramid collects water as it sits on top of a spring

Pyramids have a reputation of mysticism, something which can be said about Halswell Park.

Situated in the garden of the Grade I listed Halswell Park in Goatshead, little is known about the structure other than it was dedicated to a nymph - something which contradicts the house's current use as a wedding venue.

The pyramid rises 12 steps to a finial in the shape of a griffin which holds a shield of the crest of the family which owned it.

One side is a small wooden door which gives access to the interior which holds a water tank which collects water from the spring running underneath.

On the other side is a plaque, perhaps made of slate, which used to carry an inscription. It is now so worn out that it cannot be read, apart from isolated and uninformative words (such as who, that). It is supposed to have once carried a poem, possibly by Alexander Pope, which included the words 'pure nymph'.

POW camp

Little is known about the history of the pyramid, however the property's first owners were the Halswell family in the 13th century.

The official Grade II listing says the pyramid dates from the 18th Century but some experts date it to after 1768 when the estate was visited by traveller and diarist Arthur Young. Although he failed to mention it, he wrote about some of the other buildings which stand in the manor house garden.

The manor house is now used as a wedding venue

Other historians believe it dates from the 1740s and that the pure nymph was a niece of Sir Charles Kenny-Tynte (distant relation of the Halswells). She died in 1744.

According to author David Winpenny who has written a book about the country's pyramids, the earlier date could be possible as the stepped pyramid form could have been influenced by Vanbrugh's pyramid at Stowe which was built in the 1720s.

The house was seldom occupied in the 19th century and in the 20th it was on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk register.

In World War II it was occupied for a short time by St Hilda's School for Girls who were evacuated from Southend. The house grounds were also used as a prisoner of war camp.

After the war, some of the house was turned into flats but the upkeep of both the house and estate was a drain on resources. It was put on the at risk register until Grahame Bond bought it.

The house and pyramid have now been transformed from their derelict state into a wedding venue and private home.