Monument record 0420802005 - Temple of Contemplation, Grotto Lake, Stowe Landscape Gardens

Summary

Site of the Temple of Contemplation known from documentary sources, used as a cold bath by 1762 and demolished by 1800.

Protected Status/Designation

  • SHINE: Stowe medieval to post medieval landscape garden, medieval deserted villages of Lamport & Boycott, shrunken village of Daford, also moats, manors and fishponds, ridge and furrow earthworks & cropmarks, and areas of ancient semi natural woodland (DBC7454)

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Type and Period (1)

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

Description

The National Trust Survey of Stowe undertaken in 1989 lists this location for the the Temple of Contemplation with was a pedimented building adorned with Bas reliefs of Caesar's heads. It was converted to a cold bath by 1762 and had been demolished by 1800 when the water supply was used for the Seasons Fountain. No traces of the building or its foundations were observed (B18).

Sources (7)

  • ---SBC17422 Aerial Photograph: 04/09/76. BCM A2/11/20-22. SP\674376. Yes.
  • <2>SBC14098 Bibliographic reference: SEELEY B 1766 STOWE, A DESCRIPTION OF THE MAGNIFICENT HOUSE & GARDENS (WITH ILLUS) (ARE VARIOUS ED.
  • <3>SBC16278 Bibliographic reference: VERTUE G ET AL; ENGRAVINGS IN SOC OF ANTIQUARIES RED PORTFOLIO P24.
  • <10>SBC2990 Bibliographic reference: CLARKE G 1976 (JULY) SLIDES OF AIR PHOTOS TAKEN JULY 1976 FROM A BALLOON SHOWING FORMER GARDEN FEATU.
  • <13>SBC16362 Bibliographic reference: WAINWRIGHT A 1989 NATIONAL TRUST ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY: STOWE (COPY, FILED).
  • <15>SBC9897 Bibliographic reference: NATTES C 1805-9 COLLECTION OF 105 SKETCHES & DRAWINGS OF STOWE (AT BCM).
  • <18>SBC19992 Unpublished document: Angus Wainwright. 1989. The National Trust Archaeological Survey: Stowe. pp41.

Location

Grid reference SP 6772 3748 (point)
Civil Parish STOWE, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

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Record last edited

Oct 27 2024 2:28PM

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