S t o u r h e a d

T h e   T e m p l e  o f   F l o r a

The temple of Flora was the first of Henry Hoare II garden buildings. It was designed by the architect Henry Flitcroft who was a friend of William Kent in 1744.
Hoare, 'the magnificent' had spent many years in Italy and he had returned to Stourhead with a copy of 'View of Delphi with Procession', a painting by the french artist Claude Lorrain. Reminding him of scenes in a book 'The Aeneid' by Virgil in 19 bc, he planned to re-create an atmosphere of distance and remoteness, as described in the book, to his landscape and creations on his estate.

Henry Flitcroft had taken the design for the temple from another in Spoleto in Italy, a temple that had been built in praise to a river god..

Hoare's Temple was originally called the Temple of 'Ceres' before being renamed sometime later to 'Flora'. its location being tucked away and hidden from view by the trees and shrubs, brings surprise and wonder to the visitor on their first discovery of it. Just as Hoare had planned his garden's layout to do.

It is an elegant classical doric temple with a colonnaded, decorated portico and pediment. It stands above Paradise Well, which is a naturally occurring spring which can be recognised as an arch of stone at the lakeside. And, on the nearby bank of the lake, as a small square stone tank with an urn ornament placed on top.

A line from Virgil's book is inscribed above the temple's door. 'Procul, O procul este, profani', translated it reads 'Begone you who are uninitiated!'

The temple is in honour to Flora, the roman goddess of flowers. It may also signify birth, and the creation of new life in the season of spring.

Above: The decorated portico.

             

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