Description
The Master's Garden is located between Temple Church and the Master's House, the residence of the Master of the Temple at the Temple Church. Reached by a flight of steps from Church Court, the L-shaped garden is on a raised plateau due to its position over the C17th catacombs, which were created adjacent to the church in order to provide more burial space. Damage by WWII bombing resulted in damage to the Master's House and the loss of a number of mature trees and other plants in the garden. The garden's layout today dates from post-war renovation, and the planting reflects the fact that the soil is free-draining due to its position over the catacombs, with plants chosen for their ability to well withstand dry conditions.
Practical Information
| Site location | Church Court, Inner Temple, access via Temple Lane/Tudor Street |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC4Y 7DE |
| What3Words | ///spill.hurls.single |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | private, but has opened for London Open Gardens |
| Events | Has opened for OGSW |
| Public Transport | Tube: Blackfriars, Temple (District and Circle). Bus: 4, 11, 15, 23, 26, 76, 172 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2017 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St Mary's Church in the Temple serves the Inner and Middle Temple and was built by the Knights Templar in the late C12th. The Order purchased land here and moved from Holborn, where they had originally established themselves on the site of the present Southampton Buildings (q.v.) where remains of foundations were discovered in 1999/2000. At that time the circular nave and porch were built and the church was consecrated by Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem in 1185. In c.1220 building of a new and larger chancel commenced, its consecration in 1240 attended by Henry III. The nave contains a series of C13th effigies of Knights in Purbeck marble, which were restored when the church itself was restored in both the C19th and in the C20th following damage in World War II. The Knights Templar were dissolved by the Pope in 1312 and the Temple property passed through the hands of a number of noblemen until 1324 when all previous lands of the Knights Templar were given to the Knights of the Order of St John. The Knights conveyed the Temple to Hugh le Despencer, favourite of the King, at whose death it reverted to the Crown but it was later granted once again to the Knights, who leased it to a society of students of the common laws of England, which eventually formed two societies, those of the Inner and the Middle Temple. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Temple passed back to the Crown although the law students maintained their lease and in 1608 James I granted the freehold to the Benchers of the Temple in perpetuity for use as a place of study and residence. Temple Church escaped the Great Fire of 1666 but was refurbished by Wren in 1682.
The original Master's House was built for the then Master Dr Bell in 1667 but was later destroyed by bombing in WWII on 10 May 1941. The current red-brick building, whose façade is a replica of the original, dates from c.1955 and was designed by architects Sir Edward Maufe and Sir Hubert Worthington, who both undertook a number of post-war projects in the Inner and Middle Temple. The garden, with a central path leading to the main entrance of the Master's House, is shown on John Rocque's map of 1746.
The original Master's House was built for the then Master Dr Bell in 1667 but was later destroyed by bombing in WWII on 10 May 1941. The current red-brick building, whose façade is a replica of the original, dates from c.1955 and was designed by architects Sir Edward Maufe and Sir Hubert Worthington, who both undertook a number of post-war projects in the Inner and Middle Temple. The garden, with a central path leading to the main entrance of the Master's House, is shown on John Rocque's map of 1746.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ312810 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Jointly by Middle Temple and Inner Temple |
| Site Management | Joint responsibility of the two Inns |
| Dates | c.1667 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: The Master's House |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | City of London |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Temples |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Thames Policy Area |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
St Mary's Church was built in the late C12th by the Knights Templar who moved here from Holborn. The round church was first consecrated in 1185; a larger chancel was added and its consecration in 1240 was attended by Henry III. The Knights Templar were dissolved in 1312 and in 1324 their Temple property was given to the Knights of the Order of St John, who subsequently leased it to a society of students of the common laws of England. This later formed into two societies, those of the Inner and the Middle Temple, who in 1608 were granted the freehold in perpetuity for use as a place of study and residence. The Temple Church escaped the Great Fire of 1666 but was badly damaged in 1941 and restored in 1954. North of the church a paved churchyard has a number of tombs, beyond this is a raised area laid out as a small garden containing the C18th memorial to Iohannes Hiccocks, the tomb of Oliver Goldsmith, and gravestones set into the paving.
This is the former site of one of the Serjeants' Inns used by the Serjeants-at-Law, a superior order of barristers dating back to at least the C12th. The Inn here appears to have been occupied from 1424-42 and then from c.1498-1730 after which it ceased to be used by the Serjeants, the building subsequently demolished. The Fleet Street site retained the name although following destruction by WWII bombing post-war buildings of 1951-58 were for commercial rather than legal use. A Neo-Georgian central block with 2 wings enclosed the cobbled Serjeants' Inn Courtyard, which had a fountain and some planting of small trees and shrubs but was otherwise largely used for parking. An archway leads to Inner Temple precincts. Nos.1-2 Serjeants' Inn are being developed as a 4-star hotel, due to open 2012, which will retain the central courtyard. No. 3 Sergeants' Inn has been barristers' chambers since 1986.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is 1 of the 4 Inns of Court, along with Middle Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. It is possible that gardens have existed since the Knights Templar established themselves here in c.1160. Leased to students of the law since the C14th, in 1608 the land was granted by a Charter of James I to the Benchers of the Inner and Middle Temple. By the mid C15th the buildings and gardens were separated into the Inner and the Middle Temple although formal division took place in 1732. The Great Garden of the Inner Temple was created by the building of an embankment to control the Thames in 1533, another embankment in 1770 doubled its size and it was again enlarged in the 1870s when the Embankment was constructed. There are lawns, a fine collection of trees, rose beds, a peony garden, seasonal displays in the High Border and a woodland garden.
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is 1 of the 4 Inns of Court, along with Middle Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. It is possible that gardens have existed since the Knights Templar established themselves here in c.1160. Leased to students of the law since the C14th, in 1608 the land was granted by a Charter of James I to the Benchers of the Inner and Middle Temple. By the mid C15th the buildings and gardens were separated into the Inner and the Middle Temple although formal division took place in 1732. The Great Garden of the Inner Temple was created by the building of an embankment to control the Thames in 1533, another embankment in 1770 doubled its size and it was again enlarged in the 1870s when the Embankment was constructed. There are lawns, a fine collection of trees, rose beds, a peony garden, seasonal displays in the High Border and a woodland garden.
