The Pyramid

The Pyramid is a folly on the Castle Howard estate, in North Yorkshire, England. The Pyramid lies on St Anne's Hill, in line with the centre of the house at Castle Howard. It was built in 1728, and was probably designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Hawksmoor had already built a pyramid in nearby Pretty Wood, and in 1732 proposed one clad in copper or silver, which remained unbuilt. It was grade I listed in 1954. In 2015 it was restored, the work including rebuilding the apex, replacing vermiculated stone, and cleaning and repointing the facades. The pyramid and the surrounding piers are built of limestone. The central pyramid, with sides of about 9 metres (30 ft), stands on a low podium, with some vermiculated rustication. The four surrounding piers each has a square base on a plinth, with a hollow column pierced by oval apertures, and surmounted by a stepped capital. Inside the period is a beehive vault containing a large, flat bust of Lord William Howard.