The Temple Of Bellona At Kew

The Temple of Bellona is on a rise near the Victoria Gate entrance to Kew Gardens.

It’s pretty, and it’s in a nice setting, but why is it there? The nearest I can imagine is that it is a memorial because the walls are decorated with medallions with the names and numbers of British and Hanoverian regiments that fought in the Seven Years’ War that ran from 1756-1763, and involved most of the European great powers.

The temple was built by Sir William Chambers in 1760 and named after Bellona, the Roman goddess of war. But why?

I asked ChatGPT what prompted Sir William Chambers to design the Temple Of Bellona at Kew Gardens.

Sir William Chambers designed the Temple of Bellona at Kew Gardens in 1760 as part of his broader architectural contributions to the gardens, which were being transformed under the patronage of Princess Augusta, mother of King George III. Chambers, a prominent architect of the time, was responsible for designing several ornamental structures at Kew, blending classical and exotic influences.

The Temple of Bellona was dedicated to Bellona, the Roman goddess of war. Its construction was likely intended to reflect Britain’s military strength during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), a major global conflict in which Britain was engaged. This patriotic theme aligned with the broader aesthetic and ideological goals of Kew Gardens, which incorporated symbolic architectural elements to convey messages of power, virtue, and imperial ambition.

The temple was one of several classical-style garden buildings Chambers designed at Kew, including the Pagoda, the Temple of Victory, and the Temple of Æolus. These structures were meant to provide an educational and picturesque landscape, reflecting Enlightenment ideals and Britain’s expanding global influence.

Two Photographs

This second photograph is from 2018 on a visit to Kew. The light is much warmer and I used a different camera. The top photo is from a Ricoh GR III and the photo below is from a Fuji X100s.

How much is down to the light and how much is down to the way the sensor on the two cameras interprets the light it receives?

I took to the more neutral Ricoh colours when I got the camera. I muse sometimes on whether Ricoh might come out with a model with a viewfinder.

I notice the signboard seems to have gone since 2018.