![[95285] Stowe : The Temple of British Worthies | by Budby](http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50845130527_19f91b8911.jpg)
[95285] Stowe : The Temple of British Worthies
Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire.
The National Trust.
The Temple of British Worthies, 1734-35.
By William Kent (1685-1748).
For Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham (1675-1749).
Grade l listed.
The Temple of British Worthies is built of stone, it is a curving roofless exedra with a large stone pier in the centre surmounted by a stepped pyramid containing an oval niche that contains a bust of Mercury, a copy of the original. The curving wall contains 6 niches either side of the central pier. With further niches on the two ends of the wall and two more behind. These are filled by busts, half carved by John Michael Rysbrack these are Milton, Shakespeare, Locke, Newton, Bacon, Elizabeth I, William III and Inigo Jones the other eight are by Peter Scheemakers these are Pope, Gresham, King Alfred, The Black Prince, Raleigh, Drake, Hampden and Barnard. There is a small pediment above each niche that breaks forward slightly from the wall. There are three broad steps following the curving wall. The choice of who was considered a 'British Worthy' was very much influenced by the Whig politics of the family, the chosen individuals falling into two groups, eight known for their actions and eight known for their thoughts and ideas.
[95285] Stowe : The Temple of British Worthies
Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire.
The National Trust.
The Temple of British Worthies, 1734-35.
By William Kent (1685-1748).
For Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham (1675-1749).
Grade l listed.
The Temple of British Worthies is built of stone, it is a curving roofless exedra with a large stone pier in the centre surmounted by a stepped pyramid containing an oval niche that contains a bust of Mercury, a copy of the original. The curving wall contains 6 niches either side of the central pier. With further niches on the two ends of the wall and two more behind. These are filled by busts, half carved by John Michael Rysbrack these are Milton, Shakespeare, Locke, Newton, Bacon, Elizabeth I, William III and Inigo Jones the other eight are by Peter Scheemakers these are Pope, Gresham, King Alfred, The Black Prince, Raleigh, Drake, Hampden and Barnard. There is a small pediment above each niche that breaks forward slightly from the wall. There are three broad steps following the curving wall. The choice of who was considered a 'British Worthy' was very much influenced by the Whig politics of the family, the chosen individuals falling into two groups, eight known for their actions and eight known for their thoughts and ideas.