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Gothic Temple
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
This temple, built in 1741, is one of the last additions to the garden at Stowe formed for Lord Cobham by Charles Bridgeman and his successor, William Kent. That same year, ‘Capability’ Brown arrived as gardener, to begin his own transformation of the landscape. Lord Cobham dedicated his new temple, designed by James Gibbs, ‘to the Liberty of our Ancestors’, for which the Gothic style was deemed appropriate. Inside, the rooms are all circular, with moulded stone pilasters and plaster vaults – the main vault of the central space being gorgeously painted with heraldry. To be on the first floor gallery is an important architectural experience; and at the top of the staircase there is a belvedere with stone seats and a fine view over this former demesne of Lord Cobham and his successors, of which the National Trust is now guardian. Stowe School gave us a long lease of the temple in 1970. It does have modern conveniences, if in rather surprising places. We hope that the splendour of the temple and its surroundings will compensate those who stay here – it is one of the finest landscape gardens in the world. View our history sheet for this Landmark
Sleeps: 4
Beds: 2D
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