Garden Temple And Wall In The Grounds Of Former Attree Villa (Not Included)

BRIGHTON

TQ3204NW TOWER ROAD 577-1/35/910 (North side) 16/03/72 Garden Temple and wall in the grounds of former Attree Villa (not included)

II

Garden temple. 1829-1830. Designed by Charles Barry for Brighton Solicitor, Thomas Attree, who in 1825 purchased the area which would later become Queen's Park. Attree had developed Marine Square (qv) between 1823 and 1825. The Garden Temple formed, along with The Tower, Tower Road (qv), a group with Barry's Attree Villa, demolished in 1972. Brick faced in cement. Square in plan, of a single stage with a shallow pyramidal roof also faced in cement. Italianate Style. EXTERIOR: the structure is open on all sides, the corners formed from unfluted Ionic pilasters, each sitting on a high socle. Running between the socles on the north, east and south sides is a parapet with a blind balustrade. The west side is open. Entablature above the pilasters has a frieze which is slightly bowed. Each bay of the structure is subordered by a semicircular arch with architrave supported on springing shafts. Each arch has a console bracket keystone which intersects the soffit of the entablature. The inside of each corner pier is rebated, the corner arris broaching at the top into a pendentive; thin entablature above the pendentives supports a saucer dome. The roof is cast with imitation rolls to simulate a lead roof and terminates in a high, pointed finial. There has been some damage to the volutes of the corner pilasters. This listing includes the wall, visible from the east, retaining the terrace on which the structure sits. It is roughly 3-and-a-half metres high, slightly battered, scored to imitate ashlaring and terminated by an entablature band. There are several moulded piers set into the wall as well as one blocked, segmental-arched opening. Along the top of the retaining wall can be found remains of a parapet. HISTORICAL NOTE: George Duddell bought the Villa and Queen's Park in 1863. It was vacant from about 1889 to 1909 when it reopened as an Xaverian College for boys. The College was closed in 1966. In August of 1971 the Villa was listed Grade II*. In March of 1972, the Villa was demolished and the site used for blocks of flats. The Garden Temple, which originally contained the statue of a dog, and its attached retaining wall are the most visible remains of the Villa. Gateposts and the foundations of old walls can be found in the area of Queen's Park Terrace and Attree Drive. (Carder T: The Encyclopaedia of Brighton: Lewes: 1990-: 138C).

Listing NGR: TQ3223104655