The Temple, South Of Wotton House

The Temple, located south of Wotton House, is an 18th-century garden temple constructed of stone with stone paving and an earth-covered roof. It features four giant Doric columns supporting a honeycomb structure with a triglyph frieze and an entablature, along with a temple recess behind. The roof is designed as a tunnel vault, and there are arched niches with rusticated decoration inside, with the central niche housing a classical female statue of Venus and a fountain basin, which is supplied by a conduit from a garden terrace. The temple is believed to have been initially built by George Evelyn in 1649 as part of his Italian Gardens at Wotton, which are now listed on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, at Grade II*.