William Kent

Garden designer

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 as a commissioned designer. Kent was the pioneer in a new, more informal style of landscape gardening that took hold in the 1730s and of which the Elysian Fields is a prime example. The principal buildings here were all designed by him and he may also have conceived the landscape setting.

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. 

The Hermitage

The Hermitage sits on the edge of the Eleven Acre Lake with a view of the Rotunda opposite. Built in a much more rugged style compared to Kent's other temples, with its roughly cut stone and dilapidated turret, it is an early example of a garden folly deliberately built as a ruin. 

The Temple of Ancient Virtue

Kent moved on to evolve a 40 acre area of the gardens running alongside the South Front of Stowe House into what is now known as the Elysian Fields.

Among Kent's first addition to the area was the Temple of Ancient Virtue. Designed in 1734 and completed in 1737, the round domed temple served as an imposing focal point for the area. The temple honours four great Greek men: Socrates; Lycurgus; Homer and Epaminondas. Often regarded as the greatest philosopher, lawgiver, poet and Ancient Greek general.

The Temple of British Worthies

Created at the same time as the Temple of Ancient Virtue but on the opposite side of the river, the Temple of British Worthies features sixteen busts. To the left, Alexander Pope, Sir Thomas Gresham, Inigo Jones, John Milton, William Shakespeare, John Locke, Sir Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon, all famous for their thoughts and ideas. To the right Sir John Barnard, John Hampden, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, King William III, Queen Elizabeth I, Prince Edward and King Alfred, all known for their actions. A final bust of Mercury, god of financial gain, commerce and luck, sits high in the middle.

Exploring the temple further, one final memorial is hidden round the back. It commemorates Signor Fido, 'an Italian of good Extraction'. A poem marks the burial spot of Lord Cobham's beloved greyhound...Signor Fido.

The Shell Bridge

The area of the water dividing the two temples is appropriately called the Worthies River. It's created by a dam dividing it from the upper section, known as the Alder River. Creating a facade and shortcut across the river, the Shell Bridge provides an impressive backdrop to the area. Its style is echoed by the Pebble Alcove further round the gardens.

The Grotto

The final of Kent's additions to the area, the Grotto, despite the cold and damp environment, provided an entertainment venue for royal guests visiting Earl Temple and his gardens. Kent originally designed the feature to stand as a building entirely above ground however, in late 1700's, long after he left Stowe, it was covered over by the new owners creating the cave appearance seen today. The Grotto is still accessible and features a statue of Venus in the main central chamber.

The Pebble Alcove

Moving away from the Elysian Fields, at the same period, Kent also designed a small seating area beside the newly expanded Octagon lake. Known as the Pebble Alcove, the building features exactly that. The style is similar to the Hermitage, with a curved seating area and the walls are covered in a detailed mosaic showing the Cobham coat of arms. The family motto appropriately translates to "how beautiful are thy temples".

Paving the way

Kent died in 1748 and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown continued the informal style Kent had started, but on an even more ambitious scale. Having worked with Kent for almost seven years and Brown already Head Gardener, the similarities in style are clear. The swooping natural landscaping of the Grecian Valley and the scale of the Temple of Concord and Victory continue the styles shown and learnt in the Elysian Fields.