Pair of Sphinxes to South of Temple in Theatre in the Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1887 2205 is a Grade II listed building in the North Hertfordshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 27 May 1968. Statue.

Pair of Sphinxes to South of Temple in Theatre in the Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1887 2205

WRENN ID
knotted-casement-jay
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
North Hertfordshire
Constituency
Hitchin MP: Alistair Strathern (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
27 May 1968
Type
Statue
Address
Pair of Sphinxes to South of Temple in Theatre in the Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1887 2205, St. Paul's Walden
OS grid reference
TL 188 220
Coordinates
51.88436, -0.2743
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

This listing describes a pair of statues of sphinxes located to the south of the temple in the theatre gardens at The Bury, St Paul's Walden. These statues date from the 18th century and are likely English, inspired by French models from the time of Louis XIV.

The sphinxes are made of lead and are positioned on limestone plinths. Each statue is a crouched half-lifesize figure with extended paws, facing one another. The eastern figure features a tasselled covering that extends to form the back of a dress, with enlarged shoulders to suggest a female torso and hair styled in a kerchief. The base of this figure is rusticated. The stone plinth has a broad moulded base and cap, with a bead-moulded sunk panel on each face. The western figure is similar, but its dress has bows at the shoulders, and it wears a choker with hair styled in a bun. The figures do not represent any specific individuals.

Local climate

Pair of Sphinxes to South of Temple in Theatre in the Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1887 2205 sits in a drier-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 720 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 82% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 76% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 35 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 60% of listed buildings. Of these, 17 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Small Temple Above Theatre in Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1887 2207 Grade II 20 m
  2. 8 Carved Stone Pedestals Around Theatre in Gardens at the Bury at Grid Refernce Tl 1885 2200 Grade II 54 m
  3. Statue of Diana at End of Left Hand Alley Running North from the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1881 2206 Grade II 61 m
  4. Statue of Running Footman at South End of Theatre in Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1883 2197 Grade II 89 m
  5. Statue of Hercules at North End of Central Alley Ruvnning North from the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1896 2215 Grade II 134 m
  6. Statue of Venus and Adonis at the Bury in East Side of Formal Garden at Grid Reference Tl 1899 2199 Grade II 134 m
  7. The Organ House at North East Corner of Garden at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1901 2213 Grade II 161 m
  8. Tirsi's Urn in West Part of Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1874 2193 Grade II 177 m
  9. Statue of Cherub Riding A Swan in A Pool on West Side of Gardens at the Bury Grid Reference Tl 1871 2197 Grade II 178 m
  10. Wyatt Temple at West End of First Cross-Axis in Gardens at the Bury at Grid Reference Tl 1870 2192 Grade II 214 m