temple shakespeare temple shakespeare small garden erected north bank richmond thames grade listed built actor honour playwright william_shakespeare plays performed great acclaim career lifetime house extensive collection relics entertaining family guests passed succession owners coming public ownership 20th century fell disrepair end century campaign supported distinguished actors donations good causes fund restored late 1990s reopened public museum memorial life career world shrine shakespeare description temple octagonal building nod rome constructed brick single east facing entrance built classical style italian architect columns wide deep flanking entrance steps lead inside arched windows reaching ground face river deep curved west wall provides room statue outside lawn garden provide views thames south history construction built temple land adjoining villa bought october serve country retreat villa riverside garden plot known lawn separated main property road kingston thames commissioned building elaborate tunnel road illuminated facilitate private access lawn house point decided build summer house riverside intended muse shakespeare temple playwright temple architect unknown decision build recorded papers suggested possibilities temple similar design stands gardens house miles away inspiration temple spent honeymoon house years earlier company wife guardians august neighbour friend wrote correspondent contracted sort intimacy neighbour affects study taste lay building graceful temple shakespeare offered motto est inspire pleasure year later wrote letter built temple master sic going outside let proposed garden temple laid accordance friend theory line beauty shaped path ran flowering shrubs accordance theory preference shapes donated grove italian plant garden widely admired time prospect moved told david leaving places makes deathbed terrible contents temple interior furnished shrine shakespeare dominated statue playwright commissioned french sculptor cost equivalent approximately chose model statue portrait shakespeare said posed sculpture appearance reminiscent shakespeare said actor struck pose illustrate wanted shakespeare portrayed statue head satisfaction replace carved different type marble lifetime statue displayed temple death display king library copy statue donated museum currently displayed temple exhibited collection shakespeare relics temple including chair tree supposedly planted shakespeare grounds house chair designed according medal shakespeare carved chair survives today owned shakespeare library items display included personal effects shakespeare old leather glove pointed fingers metal dagger ring collection sold dispersed death widow collected memorabilia took days auction usage employed temple museum working building quiet place learn lines write letters actor entertain wife guests afternoon tea dinner painter protégé painted number scenes actor wife friends lawn temple guests letter writer described scene entertainment letter excellent dinner nicely served went directly garden piece irregular ground sloping thames laid planted shade shelter opening river appears beautiful spot shakespeare temple end improvement drank tea fine statue shakespeare white marble great chair large carved frame shakespeare chair particular occasion fixed relics saw favourite poet clock fine group children walked garden added scene visitors encouraged pay homage writing verses shakespeare honour placing foot statue best published anonymously london journals found practice commented dedicated temple certain shrine frequent alter fat grateful deity seen smoke august temple gardens elaborate silver jubilee celebrations celebrate years marriage reported night gave splendid entertainment gardens conducted brilliant fire work elegant concert music performed company consisted great number nobility gentry expressed satisfaction occasion temple shakespeare gardens illuminated lamps forge vulcan splendid appearance opened temple garden public special occasions day seated chair noted accompanied wife poor children money woman attended day event later recalled called took children temple sitting fine bust great took names gave piece cake individual leaving poor mothers arms preservation restoration temple villa remained hands wife death age subsequently bought solicitor preserved monument erected statue temple replace shakespeare changed hands times villa converted apartments riverside lawn sold separately temple bought built storey house alongside temple caused controversy public outcry site bought demolished lawn temple subsequently opened public remained public ownership second world war temple post given grade listed status september conservation area 1960s poetry readings neglected 1970s suffered wet dry vibrations traffic busy nearby road damaged fabric building thieves stolen lead roof specialist conservation architectural firm commissioned richmond thames council restore building cost work carried building firm architect advised paint colours 1990s temple condition deteriorated suffered heavy vandalism richmond reported state dangerous disrepair suffered theft lead roof graffiti spray painted walls georgian away wooden columns supporting campaign launched restore temple garden use cultural purposes provided local groups campaign led actor sir provided additional funding carry restoration work restoration fund supported actors sir sir dame subsequently donations restoration work undertaken temple reopened public late early garden replicate original georgian appearance provided copy statue shakespeare occupy vacant niche original stood temple populated exhibition life career including copies portraits project completed april today temple managed brings london borough richmond thames temple shakespeare trust thames landscape strategy temple shakespeare trust chaired actor member temple open public sunday april september concerts annual general meetings private events runs educational programme local conjunction nearby recording studio neighbor
Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare