History
Lord Nelson's links to The Kymin
Lord Nelson visited The Kymin to inspect the temple that had been built to honour the Royal British Navy. His first commission and victory at the Battle of the Nile are commemorated in stone at the Naval Temple here.
A brief history of The Kymin
The Roundhouse was built as a banqueting house
© Sara Szwer
A tapestry of colourful history surrounds The Kymin. It was visited by lords, was a favoured spot for the gentry and a monument to admirals of the British Navy. But it was nearly lost to us all.
The Naval Temple
The Naval Temple at The Kymin
© National Trust
In 1801 a group of gentlemen who enjoyed picnicking at the Roundhouse expanded their horizons and built a temple to celebrate the glories of the British Navy. Over time they created a network of footpaths and lookout points, a bowling green and some pleasure grounds. It was the height of the Picturesque movement and the Wye Valley was at the forefront.
Refurbishing the Naval Temple
The oldest known depiction of the Naval Temple includes a sundial. It's had many facelifts since the original design, and this year we’re going to refurbish it again. We’ll put on a new roof and re-plaster the walls.