Temple at TL528 381, east of Audley End House (EHER 404)

A late 18th century garden temple and eye-catcher situated within the eastern part of Audley Park. It was built for Sir John Griffin Griffin in 1790-1791 to celebrate King George III's first recovery from insanity. A Ha-ha ring completely surrounds the building, which was designed as a ruined Corinthian temple and is constructed of brick, clunch and terracotta.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 404 and 26844. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Temple of Concord (NAT). <1> Small Corinthian temple built in 1790-1 to a design by Robert Adam. It commemorates the recovery of George III from his first attack of insanity. <2> <3> A small rectangular Corinthian temple built in 1790-1 to a design by Robert Furze Brettingham, it commemorates the recovery of King George III from his first attack of insanity. <4> Garden temple situated within the grounds of Audley End House, to the east of the house. It was designed in 1790 by Robert Furze Brettingham for Sir John Griffin Griffin to celebrate King George III's first recovery from insanity. It was designed as a ruined building, surrounded by a circular ha- ha, and is constructed of brick, clunch and terracotta. <5> <6> The late 18th century Temple of Concord and surrounding Ha-ha ring are clearly visible on a range of aerial photographs and in lidar data. The ring measures 35m in diameter and a slight bank forms an arc immediately to its east. <7> <8> In this guidebook there is a photograph of the Temple of Concord and it can also be seen on a illustrated plan of Audley Park in the book's back cover. <9> In the current (2010) guidebook for Audley End House and Gardens, there is a photograph of the Temple of Concord as well as brief description of the structure. It is also marked on an illustrated plan in the front cover. <10> The temple is listed at Grade II*. The frieze contains Coade stone panels on the north and south fronts, featuring a Roman emperor said to be a depiction of the King, George III. The metal lettered inscription on the east face reads: CONCORDIAE SACRUM IOAN GRIFFIN DOM HOWARD ET BRAYBROOKE POSVIT MDCCXC (John Griffin Lord Howard and Braybrooke built the Temple of Concord in 1790). The inscription on west face is fragmentary, but appears to be a dedication to King George III and Queen Charlotte. <11> June 1989. Field visit. As described by <1> <2>. <12> 1995. Trial trenching. It is enclosed within a Ha-Ha ditch which was originally crossed by an iron bridge. In the 1830s the ditch was provided with an encompassing wall and the Temple reached by dropping down into the ditch, entering through a gateway, then rising again to ground level. In the 1950s steps were constructed to make this easier. These steps were due to be replaced and trial trenching was conducted prior to this in order to ascertain whether or not any earlier steps survive in the vicinity. Two trenches were excavated against the western edge of the existing steps. It was concluded that earlier steps do not lie in the immediate vicinity of those constructed in the 1950s or were destroyed when these were built. <13> See also: <14> - <20>