'Minerva'S Temple'

Minerva's Temple is a large garden shelter constructed in 1911, originally built as an advertisement for Bath stone at the Empire Exhibition held at Crystal Palace that year, and subsequently removed to Sydney Gardens where it has remained permanently.

The building is constructed from limestone ashlar beneath a slate roof and measures approximately 8 metres square on plan. The main elevation features a prostyle of four fluted Corinthian columns supporting an entablature. The structure rises to approximately 12 metres high at the apex of its large pediment. The tympanum is carved with female figures supporting a wreath, surrounding a carved head of Sulis.

The open interior contains a wooden bench with a bronze tablet mounted on the rear inner wall. The tablet reads: "This building and tablet commemorate the great Historical Pageant held at Bath, July 19th to 24th 1909". This inscription creates an indirect connection to the Bath Historical Pageant of 1909, which took place in Royal Victoria Park and included a wooden replica of the Temple of Sulis Minerva that formerly lay beneath Stall Street, Bath.

Sydney Gardens themselves were laid out as commercial pleasure grounds between 1792 and 1794, initially designed by architect Thomas Baldwin, who was replaced by Charles Harcourt Masters in 1794 after going bankrupt. The gardens opened on 11 May 1795 as Sydney Gardens Vauxhall and became a popular entertainment venue, hosting public breakfasts, promenades and galas. The principal building was the Sydney Tavern, which stood at the western end of the central walk and housed tea and card rooms, a ballroom, coffee room and public house. In 1799, the Kennet and Avon Canal was cut through the gardens with decorative bridges and tunnels. During the early 19th century, additional features and structures were introduced in accordance with contemporary landscape design principles. From around 1839, the Great Western Railway was constructed through the gardens. Further ornamental structures were added later in the 19th century, though most were cleared after World War Two.

When the original 99-year lease expired in 1891, the site was sold with plans to replace the Tavern with a large hotel and remodel the grounds, but this scheme was abandoned. In 1908, Bath City Council purchased the site, and the gardens were opened to the public as a municipal park in 1913. The Tavern was remodeled by Sir Reginald Blomfield into the Holburne of Menstrie Museum. The gardens continue in use as a public park.