The Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo is a Grade I listed temple located in Stourton with Gasper, built in 1765 by Henry Flitcroft for Henry Hoare. Its design is inspired by a temple depicted in Wood's "Ruins of Baalbec," published in 1757. The structure is made of limestone ashlar and features a circular shape with a plinth that has eight steps leading to the side overlooking the lake. It is supported by twelve Corinthian columns that carry a scalloped entablature. Each bay of the temple contains a semi-circular niche and an oculus, which originally held lead statues that were relocated to Stourhead House between 1903 and 1904.

The north side of the temple has double doors with six fielded panels and a moulded tympanum with keystones. Flanking the doors are niches that contain replica statues from 1907-1908. The drum of the temple has lunettes and a cornice leading to a dome, which was replaced in the 1950s with a shallower version of the original. Inside, the walls are painted brick, and there is a small stone fireplace. The interior originally featured a large cast of Apollo, which was illuminated from above. Flitcroft's design was likely influenced by William Chambers' Temple of the Sun at Kew, built in 1761, which closely resembles the Baalbec temple.