It is unclear when William Wentworth developed this very unusual artificial river, but it was probably just before 1750.  It was lengthened in 1758 to allow the drive to cross it. The whole of its eastern side is a dam and this is currently leaking.

The Trust's long-term ambition is to restore the Serpentine in future phases of work.

Serpentine Bridge

This was built in the late 1750s to allow visitors to the Castle to continue using the drive once the Serpentine was extended beneath it. It was on most visitors' route to the property.

Replacement of the bridge balustrade was completed in Phase One of the restoration using archive pictures to help recreate the missing ballustrades.