Today’s photo from ‘the park’ is of The Little Temple at Temple Newsam a Grade 2 listed structure built around 1765. It was built as part of Lancelot “Capability” Brown’s remodelling of the Park and was designed to be seen from the Temple Newsm House. Unfortunately this view is now obscured by trees.
The structure is in a poor state of repair and has been fenced off for security reasons although this does nothing to protect the decaying structure from the elements. I am unsure what is currently being done to protect this building for another 200+ years but this report on The Leeds Civic Trust Website is from 2013.
“Once accessible, it has been fenced off for many years ‘for safety reasons and to deter vandalism’ according to an L.C.C. sign. The roof has missing and displaced elements which have led to water ingress and severe deterioration of timber and of the rendered brickwork. Parts of the stone columns and base are damaged or missing and there is significant graffiti.
The (old) LCC notice on the site also says that a condition survey has been completed and that the Temple will be restored as part of a programme to restore all the historical structures at Temple Newsam. I have been unable to find where this survey resides however and understand that there is currently no such programme of restoration work for the Park.” – Richard Voss (Heritage at Risk Group)
The structure is on still on The Leeds Civic Trust heritage at Risk List for 2015 as are several other structures at Temple Newsam. It is is listed as at risk (vulnerable through neglect, decay and inoccupation).
