A ROMAN TEMPLE IN SOMERSET ?
No, but the Temple of Harmony at Goathurst, near Bridgwater is based on the 1st Century Temple of FORTUNA VIRILIS in Rome.
Completed in 1767, the Temple stands in Mill Wood, a 17 acre pleasure garden created by Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte. It is listed Grade II * and has been fully restored.
A magical place
Terpsichore the Muse of Song and Dance
VISITS
The Temple of Harmony is open to the public on: Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays in the afternoons from:2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
at Easter and then from the last weekend in May to the end of September.
ENTRANCE FEES
Adult: GB Pound 1
OAP and Children: 50 pence
DIRECTIONS
Exit M5 at Junction 23 and take the A 39 through Bridgwater towards Minehead. On the dual carriageway, just past Safeway, turn left to Spaxton and Enmore. After 1 1/2 miles turn left again to Goathurst.
Or exit M25 at Junction 24 towards North Petherton and then follow signs to Goathurst. All access to Goathurst is down narrow country lanes. There are no facilities at the Temple and access for disabled people is difficult.
HALSWELL PARK TRUST
Halswell Park was developed between 1745 and 1785 as a splendid setting for Halswell House (Grade 1). The transformation of the landscape was on a grand scale and ranks in scope and importance with some of the finest landscape gardens in Europe.
The grounds contain many fanciful buildings, fish ponds, cascades and bridges and the Halswell Park Trust was established with the aim of acquiring these buildings and surrounding land, restoring them and opening them to the public.
At present only the Temple of Harmony is open to the public. The Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust restored another fine building in 1998, Robin Hood's Hut (Grade II*), which commands remarkable views over Somerset, the Bristol Channel and South Wales. The Hut is now owned by the Landmark Trust who have installed a kitchen and built a bathroom. They let the building on short holiday lets. It is not open to the public (except on open days once or twice a year) but the walk up to it is a wonderful experience
via the public footpath which starts by Halswell House Lodge and continues south through the heart of the old Grade 2* Park to Robin Hood's Hut.Please note that the surrounding farm land in the old Park including Mill Wood, Halswell House and all other buildings, are private and not open to the public. Visitors should not enter this land by leaving the public footpath without permission from the owners and should not, under any circumstances, approach farm animals.
Robin Hood's Hut Jul 2004
The Trust is a charity (No 1054629); donations, comments and ideas are welcomed by the Secretary.
The Trust works in co-operation with the world-famous gardens at Hestercombe, which are about 4 miles away. It is possible to visit both sites in one morning or afternoon.
A Naiad on the Bath stone bridge
You can also visit Hestercombe Gardens which are only 3 miles away
Please click on the sign posts below for more information on the county of Somerset, including events, information, accommodation and a Somerset photo-library
