Central Section are very fortunate, that in London we have so many beautiful buildings to visit, but surely Two Temple Place must be one of its most amazing architectural gems?
Hidden away on the Embankment behind the Strand, is this Late-Victorian, neo-Gothic mansion with a Tudor twist. ‘A perfect Gem of late Victorian Art’, you can take a virtual tour of the building on the link at the bottom of the Two Temple Place webpage at www.twotempleplace.org
Twenty three members and friends were treated on Saturday 31st Jan to an excellent guided tour, where quite honestly we could hardly believe the treasures we were going to see. It really is one of the most ornate and skilfully worked buildings in the UK.
Known for many years as Astor House, it was commissioned by William Waldorf Astor in the 1890s to be the flagship of the Astor business. He was one of the richest men in the world and as an expatriate New Yorker, he acquired the services of one of the foremost neo-Gothic architects of the late nineteenth century, John Loughborough Pearson who was renowned for his work on churches and cathedrals (he was the architect and surveyor of the fabric at Westminster Abbey and was buried in the centre part of the nave of the abbey).
Astor had emigrated to England in 1891, said to be the richest man in the world at that time, and no expense was spared in the extraordinary, opulent interior of Two Temple Place. The interior was designed to reflect the cultured and fastidious tastes of William Astor, where his favourite characters from history and literature were brought to life in the many carvings that adorn the building.
Although the building was damaged during World War II, it has been restored and shows little sign of the restoration work. The interior reflects the personality of Astor, with the many carvings that prevail the building. Some of the highlights of the carvings are found on the ornamented newel posts adorning the central staircase. Carved figures, about 0.5 metre high, of D’Artagnan and the three musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis adorn the top of four of the newel posts, to portray the historical characters from the French novel, ‘Les Trois Mousquetaires’.
Astor’s library in the estate office, was designed as a private retreat and the secret door from the Great room was disguised in the mahogany and satinwood panelled walls. The west wall is covered with ornate cupboards and panels that disguise hidden spaces. The whole wall is covered with carvings that reflected the literacy that Astor’s character repeated throughout the building.
The Great room, located on the first floor above the offices, stretched from the east to the west walls of the building, over 21 metres long. Both these walls had oriel windows in the inglenooks that were positioned to enable the rising sun to shine through and cover the room with glorious coloured light from the magnificent stained glass windows, and repeat the experience at sun set. The roof of this magnificent room has probably the most decoratively carved, Spanish mahogany, hammer beam roof trusses that can be found in the world. Some of the better known figures in history are portrayed at the heads of the hammer beams and were carved by, Nathaniel Hitch; Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, to name a few.
Finished in 1895, the house contained the largest strong room in Europe as well as having two enormous fortified safes. However this was certainly no office!! The house today is owned by The Bulldog Trust, a registered charity and supports charitable activities hosted in the building. Incidentally, for those of you who have followed the epic production Downton Abbey you will have seen the interior of the Grand Hall, as the marriage of Lady Rose was filmed inside the house. Jim Stickings FIOC, our visits organiser, had been able to arrange this special visit and tour for us, led by a guide who concentrated on the outstanding woodwork within the building. Really an excellent visit, enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks again Jim!
Brian Streather FIOC and Don Stevens FIOC | Central Section
This article first appeared in the March 2015 issue of Cutting Edge. As part of the IOC membership, IOC members receive quarterly editions of Cutting Edge magazine and access to all back issues online.
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