Two Temple Place

Two Temple Place passed out of Astor ownership almost immediately upon William Waldorf’s death and sadly the contents were dispersed by inheritance and by sale. The Incorporated Accountants made it their head office and more personal parts of the building were also removed, like the library fireplace with its rather dubious Astor family tree, now at Cliveden. Most notable, post-Astor, was a fateful moment in 1944 when Temple Place was hit by a flying bomb. In 2024, when the Great Hall floor was replaced, a couple of pieces of likely shrapnel were found deeply embedded in the beams under the floor. Two Temple Place was badly damaged and would not be made whole again until 1951. At least it was retained, the Middle Temple library next door is now a car park to our East…

From ground level it is difficult to distinguish between what was included in the post-WW2 restoration and what was original. Some of the Ivanhoe sculptures in the roof were repaired or replaced and with a pair of binoculars you can probably spot them. A few of the portrait roundels also needed repair. We think that four were lost entirely (we have 50 and the original scheme seems to have had 54). We also suspect that at least one has the wrong name. Our constant desire to research the original scheme also suggests a few current attributions of portrait identities may need revision. The immense care and expense taken by the Incorporated Accountants is testimony to the original building and its deep appeal to those who spend time in it. That such careful and expensive repair is occasionally evident can provide no greater compliment to the original craftsmen. The greatest loss, given many of the treasures like the Sunrise and Sunset windows, the bronze lamps and the newel posts had been stored for the war, was the library ceiling. It would once have looked like that in Hever Castle’s gallery.

The undertaking of the repair, by no less than the former President of RIBA, Sir Percy Thomas, required a majority of the building to be rebuilt, even when the stones did not require replacement. The changes are best documented in the RIBA Journal (Thomas 1952), with plans providing a before and after view of the quite drastic changes to the west side and a subtle change and extension to the footprint of the building. The changes were surprisingly extensive given how wonderful and authentic the building still appears today. The William Morris room with its elegant bay had previously been a closed strong room and the vestibule a tighter and darker affair. Our current stairs are also wider and perhaps grander than the originals.

The West wing with the current Bulldog Trust offices and exhibition café space was only added in the 1960s. Although the decorative scheme is no match for the originals, the care and expense is to the great credit of Smith & Nephew, the then owners.

Two Temple Place gained its Grade II* listing in 1960.