This photo was taken on the north coast of Northern Ireland it is of Mussenden Temple, an attractive folly, inspired by the Tivoli Temple
of Vesta, situated within the precincts of Downhill Castle on the cliff top. Perched on the top of a 120-foot cliff Mussenden Temple, was also built by the Bishop of Derry as a summer library 1783. The architecture of Mussenden Temple, was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome
. The bishop constructed the temple in honour of his married cousin, Frideswide Mussenden, with whom it is said he was infatuated by. However, dying at the age of 22, Frideswide Mussenden never lived to see the temple completed.
of Vesta, situated within the precincts of Downhill Castle on the cliff top. Perched on the top of a 120-foot cliff Mussenden Temple, was also built by the Bishop of Derry as a summer library 1783. The architecture of Mussenden Temple, was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. The bishop constructed the temple in honour of his married cousin, Frideswide Mussenden, with whom it is said he was infatuated by. However, dying at the age of 22, Frideswide Mussenden never lived to see the temple completed.Underneath the building is a room that was used by Catholic priests to say mass. An opening in the floor is concealed by a trapdoor.
In the 200 years since its completion, the coast at Downhill has eroded by about 30 feet and in 1996 engineers declared that the building was in real danger of falling into the sea and being lost forever! It was decided that strengthening work should be carried out and several reinforced iron rods were inserted into the cliff to prevent further deterioration.
What a neat scene. I love places like this!
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