Buildings and Structures

Decorative Structures

Temple of Bellona

This building is named after the Roman goddess of war and companion god Mars. It was built in 1760 by Sir William Chambers and later moved to its present location from a site near the present Princess of Wales Conservatory.

The building consists of a four-column Doric facade with a pediment (the triangular front part of the building) and rectangular dome. Inside it is decorated with plaques displaying the names of British and Hanoverian regiments which distinguished themselves in the Seven Years' War (1756-63).

The temple overlooks two highlights of the Kew year: in spring the nearby lawns are covered with more than one-and-a-half million crocuses planted in 1987, and close by the old cotinus tree turns a rich red colour in autumn.

The Temple of Bellona is not open to the public.