Two Temple Place

Two Temple Place is a magnificent and eccentric neo-Gothic mansion in central London, owned and run by registered charity the Bulldog Trust. Since 2011, a major free annual exhibition program showcasing regional public collections has invited 400,000 people to see some of the UK’s little-known artworks, offering curating and employment opportunities for early career cultural talent. The exhibition forms the flagship heart of a program that shares the hidden gem of Two Temple Place more widely, with more people, for more of the year through cultural and community partnerships. The building inspires, provokes, and welcomes creative reimaginings of its spaces, new retellings of its stories, and new artistic responses to its history and craftwork.

History of Two Temple Place

Two Temple Place is a remarkable neo-Gothic mansion located in central London, overlooking the Thames River. The mansion was built in the late 19th century by William Waldorf Astor, an American businessman, and philanthropist. Astor was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he made a significant impact on both sides of the Atlantic.

William Astor was born in 1848 in New York City, the son of John Jacob Astor III, one of the wealthiest men in America. Astor was educated at Harvard University and then went on to study law at Columbia University. However, instead of pursuing a career in law, Astor decided to go into business and made his fortune in real estate. He also inherited a considerable fortune from his father, which allowed him to pursue other interests, such as politics and philanthropy.

Astor moved to London in 1891 and purchased the site on which Two Temple Place now stands. He commissioned the architect John Loughborough Pearson to design the mansion, which was completed in 1895. The building’s design is a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture, featuring intricate carvings, stained glass windows, and ornate ceilings.

Astor used Two Temple Place as his London residence and filled it with his extensive collection of art and artifacts. The mansion quickly became a hub for the London social scene, and Astor hosted many lavish parties and dinners at the house.

After Astor’s death in 1919, Two Temple Place was sold to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which used the building as its headquarters. In the 1920s, the building was leased to the Indian YMCA, which used it as a hostel for Indian students studying in London.

In 1945, Two Temple Place was acquired by the Ministry of Education and used as offices for the National Council for the Training of Teachers. The building underwent significant renovations in the 1950s and was converted into a conference center.

In 2011, Two Temple Place was acquired by the Bulldog Trust, a registered charity that aims to promote education, culture, and heritage. The trust has transformed the mansion into a cultural center, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and other events. The trust also runs an annual exhibition program that showcases regional public collections and offers curating and employment opportunities for early career cultural talent.

The connection between William Astor and Two Temple Place lives on through the many art and artifacts that he collected during his lifetime, many of which are on display in the mansion today. The building’s stunning architecture and rich history make it a unique and essential part of London’s cultural heritage. It continues to inspire and provoke new artistic responses and creative reimaginings of its spaces and stories, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in London’s rich history and culture.