Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare facts for kids
David Garrick and his Wife by his Temple to Shakespeare at Hampton,
Johan Zoffany, c. 1762 |
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 Location in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
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| Coordinates | 51°24′45″N 0°21′34″W / 51.4124°N 0.3594°W |
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| Location | Hampton, London |
| Type | Folly |
| Material | Brick |
| Beginning date | 1755 |
| Completion date | 1756 |
| Dedicated to | William Shakespeare |
| Designations | |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Garrick's Shakespeare Temple |
| Designated | 2 September 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1065456 |
Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare is a special building called a folly. It was built in 1756 on the north bank of the River Thames in Hampton. This area is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
The temple is a very important historical building, given a "Grade I listed" status. It was built by a famous actor named David Garrick. He wanted to honor the amazing playwright William Shakespeare. Garrick was well-known for performing Shakespeare's plays.
During his life, Garrick kept his collection of Shakespeare items here. He also used it to entertain his family and friends. After he died, the temple had many different owners. It became public property in the 1930s.
By the late 1900s, the temple was in bad shape. But with help from famous actors and money from the National Lottery, it was fixed up. It reopened in the late 1990s. Today, it's a museum and a memorial to David Garrick. Some people say it's the only place in the world built just to honor Shakespeare!
Contents
What it Looks Like
The temple is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. It has a dome on top, similar to the ancient Pantheon, Rome building. It's made of plain brick.
The main entrance faces east. It has a classical style, like buildings from ancient Greece and Rome. This style was made popular by an Italian architect named Palladio. There's a porch with four columns at the front. You walk up several steps to reach this porch.
Inside, there are arched windows that go all the way to the ground. These windows face the river. On the west wall, there's a curved space where a statue can stand. Outside, there's a lawn and garden. From here, you can see beautiful views of the River Thames.
History of the Temple
Building the Temple
David Garrick built the temple on land next to his country home. He bought this home, called Garrick's Villa, in 1754. The garden by the river was separate from his house. It was across a road.
Garrick had a special tunnel built under the road. This tunnel had 500 lanterns to light it up. It allowed him to get to the garden easily from his house.
Around 1755, Garrick decided to build a summer-house by the river. He wanted it to be a "temple" dedicated to Shakespeare. We don't know for sure who designed the temple. Some people think it might have been Robert Adam or Lancelot "Capability" Brown.
A similar "Ionic Temple" is at Chiswick House, not far away. Garrick had stayed at Chiswick House for his honeymoon. This might have given him the idea for his own temple.
In 1755, Garrick's friend Horace Walpole wrote about the temple. He said Garrick was building a "graceful temple to Shakespeare." Walpole even suggested a Latin motto for it. The motto meant: "If I inspire and give pleasure, it is because of you."
The garden in front of the temple was designed in a special way. It followed William Hogarth's idea of the "Line of Beauty." This meant paths were S-shaped, winding through flowering bushes. Walpole gave Garrick some Italian cypress trees for the garden.
The garden was very admired. The writer Samuel Johnson once told Garrick that leaving such a beautiful place made dying seem "terrible."
What Was Inside
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The inside of the temple was like a special shrine to Shakespeare. The main feature was a large statue of the playwright. Garrick paid a French sculptor named Louis-François Roubiliac a lot of money for it.
Roubiliac based the statue on an old painting of Shakespeare. It's even said that Garrick himself posed for the statue! Because of this, the statue looks a bit like Garrick. He supposedly struck a pose and said, "Lo, the Bard of Avon!" to show how he wanted Shakespeare to look.
Garrick wasn't happy with the first head Roubiliac carved. So, the sculptor had to make a new one from a different type of marble.
During Garrick's life, the statue was in the temple. When he died, he left it to the British Museum. It was later moved to the British Library. Today, a copy of the statue is displayed in the temple. The museum donated this copy.
Garrick also showed off his collection of Shakespeare items in the temple. One special item was a chair made from a mulberry tree. People believed this tree was planted by Shakespeare himself at his house in Stratford upon Avon. The artist Hogarth designed the chair. It had a medal of Shakespeare carved into its back. This chair still exists and is now in a library in Washington, D.C.
Other items included Shakespeare's old leather glove, a dagger, and a ring with "W.S." on it. After Garrick's wife died, his huge collection of Shakespeare items was sold. It took ten days to auction everything!
How Garrick Used It
Garrick used the temple for more than just a museum. It was a working building too. He used it as a quiet place to learn his lines for plays and write letters. He also entertained his wife and guests there for afternoon tea and dinner.
The painter Johann Zoffany often painted Garrick, his wife, and their friends. He showed them on the lawn and in front of the temple. One guest, Mrs. Delany, described a party there in 1770. She said they had dinner, then went to the garden. They drank tea in Shakespeare's Temple. She saw the beautiful Shakespeare statue and the special chair. She also mentioned seeing "many relics" of the famous poet.
Visitors were encouraged to write poems honoring Shakespeare. They would place these poems at the foot of the statue. Garrick would then publish the best ones in London newspapers.
Some people found this practice a bit much. The writer Samuel Foote joked that Garrick was praising himself, not just Shakespeare. Even the famous French writer Voltaire made fun of the temple. Some people thought Garrick built the temple to link himself forever with Shakespeare.
In August 1774, the temple and gardens were the main spot for Garrick's 25th wedding anniversary party. The London Chronicle newspaper reported on it. It said there were fireworks, music, and many important guests. The temple and gardens were lit up with 6000 lamps!
Garrick also opened the temple and garden to the public sometimes. Every May Day, he would sit in the special chair with his wife. He would give money and cakes to the poor children of Hampton. One woman remembered getting a shilling and plum cake from Mr. Garrick when she was a child.
Keeping it Safe and Fixing it Up
The temple and villa stayed with Garrick's wife until she died in 1822. Then, her lawyer bought it. He kept it as a memorial to Garrick. He even put a statue of Garrick in the temple.
The property changed hands several times. In 1923, the villa was turned into apartments. The riverside garden and temple were sold separately. A man built a three-story house right next to the temple. This caused a big public outcry!
In 1932, the local council bought the site. They tore down the new house. The lawn and temple were then opened to the public. They have been public property ever since.
During World War II, the temple was used by Air Raid Precautions wardens. It was given its Grade I listed status in 1952. In the 1960s, it was used for poetry readings.
However, by the 1970s, the temple was neglected and damaged. It suffered from rot, and traffic vibrations hurt the building. Thieves even stole the lead from the roof. An architectural firm specializing in old buildings helped fix it up.
By the 1990s, the temple was in bad shape again. It had been badly vandalized. A newspaper reported in 1994 that it was "dangerously damaged." Lead was stolen from the roof, and graffiti was sprayed on the walls. Vandals even broke one of the wooden columns.
In 1995, a campaign started to restore the temple and garden. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave £70,000. Other groups and a campaign led by actor Sir John Gielgud also helped. Famous actors like Sir Peter Hall, Sir Donald Sinden, Richard Briers, Dame Judi Dench, and Jeremy Irons also donated money.
The restoration work was done by the same architectural firm. The temple reopened to the public in late 1998. In early 1999, the garden was replanted to look like it did in Garrick's time. The British Museum provided a copy of Roubiliac's Shakespeare statue. It now stands where the original once was.
The temple now has an exhibition about Garrick's life. It includes copies of famous paintings of him. The whole project was finished by April 1999.
Today, the temple is managed by a group called Garrick's Temple Partnership. This group includes the local council and several trusts. The Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare Trust is led by actor Clive Francis.
The temple is open to the public on Sunday afternoons from April to September. It's used for concerts, meetings, and private events. It also has educational programs for local schoolchildren.
See also
- Astoria (recording studio) (a neighbor)
- Shakespeare's signet ring, a ring that might have belonged to William Shakespeare. It also has the letters WS, like the one in Garrick's Temple.
