Little Temple

Garden eye-catcher and viewpoint in the form of a small prostyle temple, 1760s, most probably designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Sandstone and rendered brick, stone-slate roof with clay ridge tiles. A hybrid design mixing Gothic and classical detailing.

LOCATION: the temple, which is effectively an open-fronted shelter, is located in the E section of the Temple Newsam parkland in a small clearing on a hill c700m E of the main house and above the southernmost Menagerie Pond. Originally the clearing was larger and the temple was clearly visible from the main house and E terrace, but vegetation has grown up since the late C20 and now largely obscures views from and to the temple.

DETAILS: the front elevation faces W towards the house and consists of a tetrastyle portico incorporating four tall slender sandstone columns with Gothic-style clustered shafts, unusual tall acanthus leaf capitals of no known Order, and an abacus at the top of each capital incorporating egg and dart moulding. The columns support a plain timber entablature and timber pediment with a boarded tympanum (paint remnants suggest that these were originally painted to imitate stone); the cornice and plain frieze of the entablature continue around to, and across, the side elevations. Unusually the four columns are unevenly spaced with the central space (accessed via two stone steps) being wider than the two side spaces. An attached column exists to each left (N) and right (S) side returns, with the rear half of each side return being a solid wall of rendered brick. The building is enclosed on the E side forming a rendered 'internal' rear to the shelter, and the floor is covered by C20 concrete screed. The building's external rear (E) wall is plain and rendered with a pediment in the same style as that to the front; the frieze on this side of the building is damaged and partly lost. The rear and side walls are set upon a brick and sandstone plinth. The roof structure, which is formed of kingpost trusses, is hidden from view by a ceiling and access is via a small square opening.