Hi everyone - I'm very new here (to both the site and the hobby) and this is my first report. It's not a typical urbex site, but I wanted to try something easier to start with... Enjoy.
The Visit
This site is one I remember from my childhood and which had always intrigued me. Unfortunately, it's fenced off and slightly overgrown, so I never took a look... until today.
The History
This Grade II listed building is a garden temple in the form of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. It has an open front with Corinthian columns and a floor of feathered stone flags with a rich Greek-key pattern inlaid border.
It dates back to the early 19th century, and forms part of an estate which was built by Irish merchant and MP John Kingston in 1790. In 1810, he sold the site to slave trader Sir Simon Haughton Clarke; the temple was probably commissioned by either Kingston or Clarke.
The vase and pineapple at the top of the temple is likely a reference to the extensive fruit gardens of the estate, which grew 1200 types of plants, including 9 types of pineapple.
Ivy and flowers dripped over the domed ceiling which looked quite romantic.
The ancient Greek architectural influences can be seen in the block plaster design and the floral column topping.
I was hoping for some cool ceiling frescoes, but alas...
The temple looked out into the surrounding forest.
A closer look at the leaf detailing at the tops of the columns.
The Visit
This site is one I remember from my childhood and which had always intrigued me. Unfortunately, it's fenced off and slightly overgrown, so I never took a look... until today.
The History
This Grade II listed building is a garden temple in the form of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. It has an open front with Corinthian columns and a floor of feathered stone flags with a rich Greek-key pattern inlaid border.
It dates back to the early 19th century, and forms part of an estate which was built by Irish merchant and MP John Kingston in 1790. In 1810, he sold the site to slave trader Sir Simon Haughton Clarke; the temple was probably commissioned by either Kingston or Clarke.
The vase and pineapple at the top of the temple is likely a reference to the extensive fruit gardens of the estate, which grew 1200 types of plants, including 9 types of pineapple.
Ivy and flowers dripped over the domed ceiling which looked quite romantic.
The ancient Greek architectural influences can be seen in the block plaster design and the floral column topping.
I was hoping for some cool ceiling frescoes, but alas...
The temple looked out into the surrounding forest.
A closer look at the leaf detailing at the tops of the columns.
