Cock Pit and Garden Feature at Moor Hall Hotel, Sutton Coldfield.

Today’s Friday photo is the sunken garden at Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield.  You may think this was purpose designed as a pretty country house “secret garden” but it’s origins are actually much more interesting.  This was originally part of a cock or bear pit dated to approximately 1750. It was only then changed to a sunken garden most likely in C.19.  The feature is actually grade II listed. The surviving features of the cock pit are shown in the picture.  They are the stretches of wall made from random rubble red sandstone which forms a circle 20 metres across.  There is also a segmental-arched alcove and a pair of buttresses. The steps and fountain are later garden features added by the owners of Moor Hall.