The Temple

The Temple is a garden temple built between 1729 and 1731 by William Kent. It is constructed of gault brick, which is partly stuccoed with limestone dressings, and features slate roofs over the portico and side wings, along with a lead-covered dome. The temple has a pedimented portico adorned with a medallion metope frieze and is supported by two Roman Doric columns in antis with an egg and dart echinus. The central block is a domed octagon that connects to the portico through two semi-circular arches. It includes sash windows with glazing bars and a plain stone band at sill level, as well as Diocletian windows on the east and west sides of the octagon. The two lower side wings have part-pediments and moulded brick eaves.

Inside, there is a fine doorway leading to the portico, featuring a lugged architrave topped by a broken pediment. The interior also includes a pulvinated frieze and a moulded plaster cornice at the springing of the dome, along with four semi-circular headed niches.