Heritage at Risk Top 10 – Following on from our Top 10 article on Thorpe Hall in the April edition of Outlook, this month we are turning our attention to the Little Temple, along with another entry from our wider Heritage at Risk list, both situated in the grounds of Temple Newsam Park.
The Little Temple is a significant architectural feature believed to have been designed by the renowned landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown during his improvements to the Temple Newsam estate in the 1760s at the invitation of Charles Ingram, the 9th Viscount Irwin, and his wife Frances.
It serves as an eyecatcher and a viewpoint within the landscape and reflects the Arcadian vision for Temple Newsam shared by Capability Brown and the Ingram family, drawing inspiration from the idealised pastoral scenes of 17th-century painter Claude Lorrain. Though Brown’s plans for the estate were never fully executed, the Temple is cited in the location of a rotunda shown on Brown’s plan of 1762, which can be seen set against a backdrop of woodland views from the house. It is believed that the Temple was most probably designed by Brown himself and constructed as a modified design for the rotunda.
Architecturally, the Temple is distinguished by its rare and intriguing blend of Gothic and classical elements, thought to be influenced by Batty Langley’s Fourth Order of the Gothic Architecture. As one of the few surviving structures based on Langley’s designs, the Little Temple stands out as an important example of both Brown’s architectural legacy and the 18th-century taste for picturesque landscape features.
The Little Temple itself is of simple construction, sandstone and rendered brick, with a stone-slate roof and clay ridge tiles, but the combination of its affiliation with Brown, its landscape setting and its overall architectural interest has earnt it the designation of Grade II* from Historic England (List Entry Number 1255949).
Views of the Little Temple from across the estate have been improved upon in recent years. Thanks to the careful management of trees and scrub that had once obstructed its visibility, it has been re-established as a more prominent feature in the landscape. Sadly, this is the only improvement to note where the Temple is concerned.
For well over a decade, the Little Temple has been surrounded by fencing in a bid to deter anti-social behaviour and recurrent vandalism. The overall condition of the structure is poor, with the fabric showing clear signs of neglect and lack of maintenance. The Little Temple has been a feature on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk List for some time —and an entry on the Trust’s own at risk list for a number of years — regrettably, there are no signs that its fortunes are set to change anytime soon.
Unfortunately, the Little Temple is not the only significant feature at Temple Newsam that is deteriorating due to a lack of repair and maintenance. Designated as a Registered Park and Garden by English Heritage in the early 1980s, Temple Newsam currently contains the Grade I listed House, along with 11 other listed structures. One of those listed structures and a feature familiar to many, is the large Fountain south of the house (List Entry Number 1255945).
Manufactured in 1894, Temple Newsam’s fountain was made by Andrew Handyside and Co. of Britannia Ironworks in Derby, who exhibited fountains at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Made of pre-cast iron, its octagonal pedestal features lions’ heads in ovals, supporting a large but shallow bowl on an acanthus leaf stem, from which rises two entwined dolphins whose tails support another smaller bowl surmounted by two cherubs. The fountain is a notable example of Victorian cast-iron craftsmanship and contributes a great deal to the aesthetic and historical value of Temple Newsam’s gardens.
Alas, the fountain is currently out of use. The standing water in the pond that surrounds it is thick with algae, which rather gives the impression of a long forgotten garden ornament — albeit a very elaborate one! As far as we know, there are no plans to restore the fountain to full working order, but we would be interested to find out if this is achievable.
Within the context of the estate’s formal gardens and landscape design, features such as the Little Temple and the fountain integrate seamlessly into the architectural detailing of the landscape. It is, however, a shame to see them reduced from their former grandeur and somewhat diminished by their current state.
As with many things, the question of the potential restoration of both these important features will likely hinge on the question of money. The sums needed to care for the wider Temple Newsam estate will be considerable, and therefore the prioritisation of financial resources is both necessary and unavoidable, but we would like to see a plan for the future of both of these listed structures, so that they can be bought back into a good state of repair.
