non-industrial purposes in the world. It was used to draw water from a well shaft directly in front of the tower. The water was used to supply a fountain in the canal and the cascade in the grotto. The grounds include a statue of Hercules, which is Grade II* listed and is suspected to be a second hand purchase by Thomas Goldney III, predating everything else on the site. The mock bastion provides a mystery, appearing for the first time on a map dating to 1748 but with no other surviving documentation of its construction. The grounds are listed Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England, and are regularly used for weddings, especially during the summer months. The gardens are opened annually to the public as well as for smaller groups by request. Grotto The ornately decorated grotto was created between 1737 and 1764 (dated 1739) and has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is decorated inside with shells, quartz and rock crystal and inside is a pillared hall with fountains, rock pool, statue of Neptune and a Lion's Den. In 1762-5 Thomas Paty was employed in "grinding, gooping and laying" tiles for the grotto. The grotto was built as the centrepiece of the gardens by Thomas Goldney III. It is the only Grotto in Britain with both a shell room and running water. The grotto is approximately 36 ft (11 m) long by 12 ft (3.6 m) wide and consists of three chambers divided by pillars encrusted with quartz crystals. The central chamber houses a life size plaster of paris lion with a lioness sitting in a den behind. Another chamber hosts a seated river god with water running from an urn over giant clams into a pool. It is lined with over 200 species of shell brought back from such locations as the Caribbean, and African waters. The roof of the central hall is composed of closely fitting blocks of Bath stone carved into pseudo-stalactites. On a panel on the door is the portrait of a lady, thought to be Ann Goldney (1707–96), the younger sister of Thomas Goldney III. The grotto is opened to the public during Garden Tour days organised by the University's Conference Office and to students at various points through the academic year. Student life Goldney Hall is one