S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e  P e b b l e  A l c o v e

From the Temple of Friendship, the path continues in a southwesterly direction to another clearing, where the visitor comes across the Pebble Alcove.

The Pebble Alcove is a sheltered, rusticated sedillia or garden seat come-façade, built from large stones. its pediment bears a medallion relief. It is of a semi-circle design, and is elaborately decorated inside, with a mosaic of hundreds of coloured pebbles, set in cream plaster, depicting various signs of the zodiac, stars, a whale, a robin and a bunch of cherries. The centre piece bears Lord Cobham's coat of arms. Underneath this are the words, "Templa Quam Dilecta", "How beautiful are thy Temples", thought to be the motto of the Cobham family.

It is thought to have been designed by William Kent, and added to the gardens around 1738-1739. It allows the visitor a delightful view north, across the Octagon lake and to the nearby Congreve Monument island.

 

 

 

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