S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e   D o r i c  A r c h

I decided to approach the Western Elysian Fields from the south, wanting to first visit the Doric Arch, so I made a short, un-advisable detour from the western path, through the very dense woods, getting scratched in the process, (certainly not the souvenir I wanted to take from my second visit to the gardens), before emerging out onto the Eastern side of the great lawn, where the Doric Arch proudly stands on the edge of the Golf Course.

The Doric Arch was erected in 1768 for Princess Amelia Sophia, the second daughter of King George II.

This monumental arch acts as another, though smaller, eye catcher as viewed from the Rotondo in Home Park to the West, and the Palladian Bridge to the Southeast. Above the Arch it is inscribed on the western side, "Amaeliae Sophiae" in honour of the Princess, and on the eastern side, "O colenda semper and culta!" Translated into English it could read: "Thou worthy of every honour."

Princess Amelia owned Gunnersbury House in Middlesex, and had commissioned a folly building herself, in 1777 known as "Princess Amelia's Bathhouse."

Princess Amelia was a great friend of Lady Temple and she would visit Stowe regularly. The Princess was so fond of her arch, she would visit it several times in one day, just to view it in different light settings. She died in October 1786 aged just 75, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Below: The Eastern side of the Doric Arch.

The Eastern side of the Arch bears a relief of the Princess.

 

T h e  E l y s i a n  F i e l d s  W e s t

Stepping through the Doric Arch one again enters the Elysian Fields from the southwest. The gravel path from the Arch leads around "Capability" Brown's smoothed landscape, towards the Temple of Ancient Virtue.

 

 

 

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