Head Gardener
In his 18 years at Stowe, Kent contributed to many areas of the gardens. For the owner at the time, Lord Cobham, Kent formed a landscape used to entertain, show off and most of all, impress. Between 1730 and 1748 he worked on areas both inside and out of the main house. In 1735 he became Head of garden design when he created the landscape and some of the temples within the Elysian Fields.
What did Kent create at Stowe?
The Temple of Venus
His first creations for the estate were the Temple of Venus and The Hermitage. Completed in 1731, the temples completed the Western Garden, originally started by James Gibbs.
The Temple of Venus looks out across the Eleven Acre Lake towards Stowe House. It's dedicated to the goddess of sex and gardening. Four busts overlook the Eleven Acre Lake representing Cleopatra, Faustina, Nero and Vespasian, all known for their appetitie for lust. Inside, the temple featured murals by the Venetian painter Francesco Sleter, one of his many works across the estate. Only a small section of these now remain due to years of neglect.
The temple is full of mystery and intriguing features. During a restoration of the building in 1991, underground chambers were discovered. The true reason for these is unknown, however, it's thought to have housed a slightly temperamental pump for an unused fountain in the temple.