Temple of Friendship

Beautiful temple, unfortunately you can’t go inside but can get a beautiful sense of what once was

built of stone in 1739 to the designs of Gibbs. It is located in the south-east corner of the garden. Inscribed on the exterior of the building is AMICITIAE S (sacred to friendship). It was badly damaged by fire in 1840 and remains a ruin. Built as a pavilion to entertain Lord Cobham's friends it was originally decorated with murals by Francesco Sleter including on the ceiling Britannia, the walls having allegorical paintings symbolising friendship, justice and liberty. There was a series of ten white marble busts on black marble pedestals around the walls of Cobham (this bust with that of Lord Westmoreland is now in the V&A Museum) and his friends: Frederick, Prince of Wales; Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield; George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton; Thomas Fane, 8th Earl of Westmorland; William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham; Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst; Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple; Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont; John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower. Dated 1741, three were carved by Peter Scheemakers: Cobham, Prince Frederick & Lord Chesterfield, the rest were carved by Thomas Adye. All the busts were sold in 1848. The building consisted of a square room rising through two floors surmounted by a pyramidal roof with a lantern. The front has a portico of four Tuscan columns supporting a pediment, the sides have arcades of one arch deep by three wide also supporting pediments. The arcades and portico with the wall behind are still standing.

Came across the temple of friendship whilst gaining access to the grounds on Saturday 2nd February 2019. We had been diverted as a result of the main entrence to Stowe being temporarily closed.

I love ruins and this is a favourite because of it's history, currently your not able to walk into it to look around as it's not safe, but once restoration has been done to make the structure sound you will beable to walk around it.

Stowe gardens are impressive, lots of follies and monuments to be seen in magnificent gardens. A different view emerges as you walk around the many and varied routes around the gardens. Usual cafe and shop for a rest and retail therapy afterwards, although both can be accessed without going around the gardens.