Description

BRIGHTON

TQ3204NW TOWER ROAD
577-1/35/910 (North side)
16/03/72 Garden Temple and wall in the
grounds of former Attree Villa (not
included)

II

Garden temple. 1829-1830. Designed by Charles Barry for
Brighton Solicitor, Thomas Attree, who in 1825 purchased the
area which would later become Queen's Park. Attree had
developed Marine Square (qv) between 1823 and 1825. The Garden
Temple formed, along with The Tower, Tower Road (qv), a group
with Barry's Attree Villa, demolished in 1972. Brick faced in
cement. Square in plan, of a single stage with a shallow
pyramidal roof also faced in cement. Italianate Style.
EXTERIOR: the structure is open on all sides, the corners
formed from unfluted Ionic pilasters, each sitting on a high
socle. Running between the socles on the north, east and south
sides is a parapet with a blind balustrade. The west side is
open. Entablature above the pilasters has a frieze which is
slightly bowed. Each bay of the structure is subordered by a
semicircular arch with architrave supported on springing
shafts. Each arch has a console bracket keystone which
intersects the soffit of the entablature. The inside of each
corner pier is rebated, the corner arris broaching at the top
into a pendentive; thin entablature above the pendentives
supports a saucer dome. The roof is cast with imitation rolls
to simulate a lead roof and terminates in a high, pointed
finial. There has been some damage to the volutes of the
corner pilasters.
This listing includes the wall, visible from the east,
retaining the terrace on which the structure sits. It is
roughly 3-and-a-half metres high, slightly battered, scored to
imitate ashlaring and terminated by an entablature band. There
are several moulded piers set into the wall as well as one
blocked, segmental-arched opening. Along the top of the
retaining wall can be found remains of a parapet.
HISTORICAL NOTE: George Duddell bought the Villa and Queen's
Park in 1863. It was vacant from about 1889 to 1909 when it
reopened as an Xaverian College for boys. The College was
closed in 1966. In August of 1971 the Villa was listed Grade
II*. In March of 1972, the Villa was demolished and the site
used for blocks of flats. The Garden Temple, which originally
contained the statue of a dog, and its attached retaining wall
are the most visible remains of the Villa. Gateposts and the
foundations of old walls can be found in the area of Queen's
Park Terrace and Attree Drive.
(Carder T: The Encyclopaedia of Brighton: Lewes: 1990-: 138C).

Listing NGR: TQ3223104655

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26661174

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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