The Doric Temple

The Doric Temple is a garden temple built in the early to mid 18th century, likely designed by Matthew Brettingham senior, with later alterations by Humphry or John Adey Repton. It is constructed from gault brick with stone and stucco dressings and features a shallow-pitched sheet copper roof. The building has a rectangular plan and is a single storey high.

There are steps leading up to a portico on the west side, which has a Doric distyle in antis. The frieze includes triglyphs and decorated metopes beneath the pediment. On the north and south sides, there are semicircular arched openings with a stone handrail and balustrade. The coved ceiling of the portico has a cornice and a central flat panel adorned with fret decoration around the border.

The central doorway consists of a two-leaf door with six raised and fielded panels, surrounded by a moulded architrave and a pediment on a pulvinated frieze. On either side of the doorway, there are two blind niches with semicircular heads. The frieze continues as a plain band around the north and south walls, while the east wall features three tall sash windows with glazing bars, separated by brick Doric pilasters. This wall also has a frieze of triglyphs and metopes, with the metopes decorated with alternating ringed bulls and scrolled initials topped with a crown.

Inside, the west doorway has a pedimented surround that matches the exterior. There is a moulded chair rail, and the north wall contains a fireplace with an eared and scrolled surround. The ceiling is adorned with an elaborate cornice.