Views across Stowe - The Queens Temple, The Gothic Temple and The Palladian Bridge

A visit to the National Trust run Stowe in Buckinghamshire.

Stowe is the creation of many 18th- century landscape designers, architects and craftsmen, and showcases some of Capability Brown's finest work. It's a towering achievement that still influences garden design today.

After early contributions from Sir John Vanbrugh and William Kent, Stowe's first garden designer, Charles Bridgeman, kickstarted the radical transformation away from formality. Lord Cobham funded huge development to create a grand canvas of idealised nature. Grassland, trees, lakes, temples and monuments: all are meticulously constructed to shape perfect views. By the mid-19th century, Richard Temple, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, ultimately aimed to impress Queen Victoria and outdo the neighbouring Claydon estate. This showmanship and rivalry ultimately contributed to bankruptcy.

The Queens Temple at Stowe.

Lord Cobham built this for his wife to directly fae his own Temple of Friendship where he and his friends would meet. Lady Cobham and her companions spent their summer afternoons enjoying the southerly aspect over Hawkwell Field and the temples at the bottom end of the garden.

Grade I Listed Building

The Queens Temple

Description

SP 6737 STOWE

9/68 STOWE SCHOOL
The Queens Temple

25.9.51
GV I

Pavilion of c1740 by Gibbs, remodelled c1770. Balustraded parapet, ashlar
stone, rusticated to basement 3-bay corinthian portico on south approached
by stone steps with balustrades. Glazed central opening, niches with urns
each side. North front also has slightly projecting pedimented centre with
curved Ionic portico, flanking niches. Interior: decorations by Valdre.
Floor has Roman tesselated pavement moved from Foscott 1839-40.(RCHM II
p.286 MON 1)

Listing NGR: SP6772437697

The Gothic Temple at Stowe.

You can book a short stay or holiday at the Gothic Temple through The Landmark Trust. Stunning 360 degree balcony views.

Grade I Listed Building

The Gothic Temple

Description

SP 6737 STOWE

9/74 STOWE SCHOOL
The Gothic Temple

25.9.51
GV I

Pavilion, now a holiday cottage; 1741 by Gibbs. Brown ironstone, roof
concealed by castellated parapets. Two storeys. Triangular plan with
3 storey tower at one angle, stone domed turrets at two. Each side has
shallow gable divided into three bays to attached columns of a gothicised
doric order with pointed arches between. The two central columns are
crowned with pinnacles, flanking a central roundel with quatre-foil. First
floor windows are traceried with quatre-foils in the centre. Ground floor
openings have gothic panelled spandrels. Each arch contains a pointed
arched window recess, some blank, others with quatrefoil opening at the
head.

Listing NGR: SP6791037444

The Palladian Bridge at Stowe.

Designed to allow carriages to cross. Originally higher over the water, but Octagon Lake has risen over the centuries. Stunning views.

Grade I Listed Building

The Palladian Bridge

Description

SP 63 NE & SP 6737 STOWE

3/78 & 9/78 STOWE SCHOOL
The Palladian Bridge

25.9.51
GV I

Covered bridge. Building in 1738, one year after the similar bridge at
Wilton House, Wiltshire, of which it is a near copy. At first the east
side had a solid wall with sculpture, removed and columns substituted 1762.
Ashlar stone, rusticated to bridge, 3 arches with carved keyblocks. 5 bay
Ionic colonnade flanked by pedimented pavilions with attached columns framing
semi-circular headed arches with scroll keyblocks to sides. Carved heads
to ends. Balustraded parapet to bridge. Coffered ceiling with colonnade.

Listing NGR: SP6800537191

Some rights reserved

Taken in: UK / England / Aylesbury Vale / Stowe (show map)

Taken on: July 2, 2023

Tags:

Stowe

Stowe Gardens

National Trust

Buckinghamshire

England

United Kingdom

Great Britain

Grade I listed gardens

tree

trees

The Queens Temple

Hawkwell Field

Grade I Listed Building

Grade I Listed

column

columns

Pavilion

Gibbs

The Gothic Temple

Holiday Cottage

Brown ironstone, roof concealed by castellated parapets

The Palladian Bridge

bridge

Covered bridge

Ashlar stone, rusticated to bridge

Octagon Lake « less

Sets appears in: • Monuments at Stowe • Stowe

Groups appears in: • " AMAZING TREES " • PARKS GARDENS AND WOODS

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ72, f/4.3, 1/800 sec, 12.3mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ72
Aperture:	f/4.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	12.3mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 18.0 (Windows)
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