Description

SYDNEY GARDENS
656-1/32/1644
'Minerva's Temple'

(Formerly listed as:
SYDNEY GARDENS, GARDEN SHELTER)
11/08/72

GV II

Minerva's Temple is a large garden shelter, dating from 1911, removed to Sydney Gardens after the 1911 Empire Exhibition at Crystal Palace.

MATERIALS: The building is constructed from limestone ashlar, under a slate roof.

PLAN: The building is approximately 8m square on plan.

EXTERIOR: The main elevation has a prostyle of four fluted Corinthian columns, which support an entablature; the building is approximately 12m high at the apex of the large pediment. The tympanum is carved with female figures supporting wreath, surrounding a carved head of Sulis.

INTERIOR: To the open interior is a wooden bench, above which is a bronze tablet on rear inner wall, which reads: "This building and tablet commemorate the great Historical Pageant held at Bath, July 19th to 24th 1909".

HISTORY: Sydney Gardens were laid out as commercial pleasure grounds between 1792 and 1794; the initial design was by the architect Thomas Baldwin, who, after he went bankrupt, was replaced by Charles Harcourt Masters in 1794. They were opened on 11 May 1795 as Sydney Gardens Vauxhall, and rapidly became a popular place of entertainment, hosting public breakfasts, promenades and galas. The main building was the Sydney Tavern (now the Holburne of Menstrie Museum), which stood at the western end of the central walk, and housed tea and card rooms, a ballroom, coffee room and a public house. In 1799, a section of the Kennet and Avon Canal was cut through the gardens, with the addition of decorative bridges and tunnels, which added to the picturesque appeal of the pleasure grounds. During the early C19, additional features and structures were introduced, adding variety and surprise in accordance with landscape design principles of the period. From c.1839, a section of the Great Western Railway was constructed, cutting through the gardens. Later in the C19, further ornamental structures were introduced, but these were largely cleared away after World War Two. In 1891, when the original 99-year lease of the Gardens expired, the entire site, including the Tavern, by then in use as a college, was sold, with the intention of replacing the former Tavern with a large hotel, and remodelling the grounds. The plan was abandoned and in 1908, the site was purchased by Bath City Council; the gardens were opened to the public as a municipal park in 1913, while the Tavern was remodelled by Sir Reginald Blomfield into the Holburne of Menstrie Museum. The gardens remain in use as a public park. This temple was constructed to serve as an advertisement for Bath stone at the 1911 Empire Exhibition at Crystal Palace and was afterwards permanently re-erected here. The Bath Historical Pageant in 1909 took place in Royal Victoria Park, and included a wooden replica of the Temple of Sulis Minerva (which lay beneath site of Stall Street, Bath); the bronze plaque thus created a connection with this building, which was, at best, indirect.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
Minerva's Temple in Sydney Gardens is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* The structure is an interesting example of a re-used exhibition building, showing the enduring appeal of Bath's classical origins
* The quality of its materials, craftsmanship and its Classical detailing
* Its contribution to the registered designed landscape in which it is situated
* Group value with the other listed buildings and structures within Sydney Gardens

Listing NGR: ST7579465334

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26674288

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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