The Guide to the Gardens provides the following description and history of the Queen's Temple, which was built during 1742-48 and altered significantly in the 1770s:
The original work was called the Lady's Temple, and is often ascribed to Kent; but it closely resembled a Gibbs building at Down Hall in Essex. Lord Cobham and his political friends had their habitable Temple of Friendship from 1739 onwards, and we can imagine Lady Cobham demanding one for her own amusement, not too far from the house, and with a south aspect. It was built on a vaulted basement, open from front to back. The upper room had mural decorations by Sleter, the Venetian, depicting ladies engaged on the one side in needlework and shell-work, and on the other in painting and making music. A central Venetian window to the south enjoyed much the same view that we see to-day. Mid-way on the left is the Gothic Temple by Gibbs, romantically peeping above trees, and at the far end of the vista, effectively "answering" us here, his Temple of Friendship.
But, looked at from the far end, the original façade cannot have been much of a climax, and it may have been Pitt who supplied what was needed; the most handsome portico at Stowe, apart from the main south portico of the house. At the same time he refaced the temple very charmingly all round, with a fine flight of steps to the front. The flattened bow at the back, of 1778, may have been the design of Vincenzo Valdre, who appeared at Stowe in about 1776. The interior was redecorated by Valdre with pink scagliola columns and an elaborate plaster ceiling. Sleter's ladies vanished from the walls and their places were taken by plaster reliefs, signed and dated by the sculptor Charles Peart, 1790. The temple was now renamed the Queen's Temple in honour of Queen Charlotte, as a tribute to her Majesty's devoted nursing of her husband, George III, during his serious illness of 1789. On the west wall, inside, a medallion shows Britannia dejected and with spear reversed. On the east wall she is sacrificing to Æsculapius, the God of Health. Four other delightful medallions represent -- War; Navigation and Commerce; Agriculture and Manufacture; Religion, Justice, and Mercy.
faculty.bsc.edu/jtatter/queens.html

Stephen

February 23, 2022

Nice place to have lunch

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 180 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 11 December

12°C

5°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Stowe, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Temple of Concord and Victory

Doric Arch, Stowe Gardens

Stowe Lion Statue

Lord Cobham's Monument

Temple of British Worthies

Foxcote Reservoir

Lamport Manor Rock and Water Garden

Pegg's Terrace

Rear of the Temple of Friendship

The Wrestlers Sculpture

Stowe Landscape Gardens

River Great Ouse in Buckingham

Queen's Temple

1. Palladian Bridge at Stowe – Palladian Bridge, Stowe loop from Mount Pleasant

2. Lord Cobham's Monument – Fane of Pastoral Poetry loop from Akeley

3. Palladian Bridge at Stowe – Palladian Bridge, Stowe loop from Akeley

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️