Building record 0446503006 - ISLAND/MUSIC TEMPLE, WEST WYCOMBE

Summary

Eighteenth century garden temple. Garden temple constructed between 1778-1782 on the middle of three artificial islands in the ornamental lake at West Wycombe and is accessible only by boat. Constructed to designs by Nicholas Revett on a mound at the east end of the island it provided a new focal point for the garden when viewed from the house. The semi-circular east front mirrors the curvature of the lake edge and is fully elaborated with loggia of unfluted columns, originally with capitals taken from Stuart and Revett's illustrations of the Tower of the Winds. The square, brick-faced western front was not intended to be seen and remains concealed by trees. The temple contains a single, fully enclosed room at ground level with an elaborate basement of several rooms linked by barrel vaulted passageways entered from the west end. The temple was evidently designed for entertaining and to allow the unobtrusive movement of servants in the basement. The temple was recorded during a survey of West Wycombe Park by English Heritage in 2000-2001.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Listed Building (II*) 1125125: ISLAND TEMPLE, WEST WYCOMBE PARK (DBC4935)

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Type and Period (1)

  • GARDEN TEMPLE (18th Century - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)

Description

Grade II+. 1778-80 by Nicholas Revett. Single storey rectangular block with semi-circular east end loggia. Cement rendering, hipped Welsh slate roof. Modified Tower of the Winds capitals to columns and pilasters under entablature with dentil cornice. East elevation central doorway, two thirds glazed door, flanking pair of sash windows, all with glazing bars. Pedimented west end (B9).

The Music Temple was built between 1778 and 1782 on the middle of three artificial islands in the ornamental lake at West Wycombe and is accessible only by boat. Constructed to designs by Nicholas Revett on a mound at the east end of the island it provided a new focal point for the garden when viewed from the house. The semi-circular east front mirrors the curvature of the lake edge and is fully elaborated with loggia of unfluted columns, originally with capitals taken from Stuart and Revett's illustrations of the Tower of the Winds. The square, brick-faced western front was not intended to be seen and remains concealed by trees. The temple contains a single, fully enclosed room at ground level with an elaborate basement of several rooms linked by barrel vaulted passageways entered from the west end. The temple was evidently designed for entertaining and to allow the unobtrusive movement of servants in the basement.
The temple was recorded during a survey of West Wycombe Park by English Heritage in 2000-2001. See full archive report for further details (B12 and B13).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.

Sources (11)

  • ---SBC17191 Aerial Photograph: Aerofilms. 1968. Aerofilms oblique AP. SU829945. Yes.
  • ---SBC17552 Aerial Photograph: 26/06/82. BCM A6/16 16A. SU\829949. Yes.
  • ---SBC17554 Aerial Photograph: 26/06/82. BCM A6/16/19. SU\828943. Yes.
  • ---SBC17555 Aerial Photograph: 26/06/82. BCM A6/16/20. SU\828943. Yes.
  • ---SBC17556 Aerial Photograph: 26/06/82. BCM A6/16/21. SU\828943. Yes.
  • <9>SBC3604 Bibliographic reference: DoE. 1973. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Buckinghamshire: Wycombe District: Borough of High Wycombe.
  • <10>SBC4635 Bibliographic reference: ENGLISH HERITAGE 1994 REGISTER OF PARKS & GARDENS OF SPECIAL HISTORIC IN-TEREST IN ENGLAND: PART 4 B.
  • <11>SBC9893 Bibliographic reference: NATIONAL TRUST 1981 WEST WYCOMBE PARK (COPY, FILED).
  • <12>SBC19995 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part 1: Site History and Introduction. 1.
  • <13>SBC19996 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part II: The Earthwork Surveys. 2.
  • <32>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE). NBR 33014; NRHE Insert 1998, Update 2001, 2004, 2005.

Location

Grid reference SU 83159 94454 (point)
Civil Parish HIGH WYCOMBE, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: Detailed topographic survey and background research: West Wycombe Park Survey (Ref: 1346157) (EBC16386)
  • Event - Survey: Investigation by RCHME/EH Architectural Survey (Ref: 613515) (EBC18798)
  • Event - Survey: Site visit (EBC13570)

Record last edited

May 15 2026 3:55PM

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