Grecian Temple, Dunorlan Park

Grecian Temple, Dunorlan Park

This is a garden temple constructed between 1854 and 1864 by the firm of James Pulham for Henry Reed.

The temple is an octagonal domed structure built of yellow brick and Pulhamite (artificial rock), rendered, and stands on three octagonal steps. Two of the rear sides expose yellow brick set on edge, while the other six sides are thought to be constructed of Pulhamite artificial rock. The ribbed dome is crowned with an elaborate metal finial. Below the dome, six sides feature a parapet decorated with rosettes and an entablature supported on Tuscan half-columns. Between these columns are round-headed arches with keystones decorated with leaf ornaments and pilasters.

The interior was originally painted with intricate designs based on ancient Greek decoration, of which some elements survive. The dome has a modillion cornice and the remains of a trompe l'oeil frieze of anthemions. The walls retain painted decoration in Roman style in Pompeian red. The floor originally featured a circular encaustic tiled design centred on a moulded circular stone plinth. An inscription on the now empty plinth records that it once held a statue entitled 'The Dancing Girl' by William Theep, presented to the Borough of Royal Tunbridge Wells by Alderman R.M. Burslem, JP in July 1951.

In 1854, Henry Reed, who had made his fortune in Tasmania, purchased Calverley Farm (which included a chalybeate spring site developed by John Ward in 1823) and commissioned the construction of Dunorlan, an Italianate house. The grounds were laid out by Scottish landscape gardener Robert Martock and James Pulham, a leading Victorian garden designer. Pulham provided Pulhamite rockwork, a Pulhamite cascade, a Pulhamite and terracotta fountain, extended and reshaped the lake, and unusually constructed this Grecian temple. The scheme was completed in 1864 and appears on the 1867 Ordnance Survey map. In 1874, Henry Reed sold Dunorlan to the Collins family, who owned it until 1945 when Tunbridge Wells Borough Council purchased the site. The main house was badly damaged by fire in 1946 and demolished in 1958. A major restoration of Dunorlan Park took place in 2003-04 following a Heritage Lottery Fund award of £2.1 million. The temple forms the focal point at the northern end of a cedar avenue and is substantially intact except for portions of the original internal painting scheme, which is planned to be restored.