Great Pagoda, Pagoda in Kew Gardens, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, United Kingdom.
The Great Pagoda rises 49.5 meters high with ten octagonal floors, featuring balconies with Chinese Chippendale railings and curved roofs covered in green and white tiles.
Sir William Chambers constructed the pagoda in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, the founder of Kew Gardens, drawing from his direct experience with Chinese architecture.
The structure represents the increased interest in Chinese design during the 18th century, when trade between China and Britain expanded substantially.
Visitors can climb 253 steps to reach the viewing gallery, which provides extensive views across London and the surrounding Richmond area.
The Ministry of Defence used the pagoda during World War II to test bomb trajectories by dropping prototypes through holes cut in each floor.
Location: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Inception: 1762
Architects: William Chambers
Architectural style: chinoiserie
Floors above the ground: 10
GPS coordinates: 51.47129,-0.29578
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:23
Île-de-France offers numerous historic sites beyond Paris, including medieval fortresses, artist residences, botanical gardens and art museums. The Château de Blandy-les-Tours preserves 13th-century military architecture, while the Albert Kahn Museum & Gardens contains a collection of historic photographs and themed gardens representing different continents. The Château d'Écouen houses the Musée National de la Renaissance, featuring significant holdings of 16th-century furniture, tapestries and ceramics. The Domaine de Sceaux encompasses a park designed by André Le Nôtre with formal parterres and a 19th-century château. The Roseraie du Val-de-Marne displays more than 3,000 rose varieties across a 3.7-acre (1.5-hectare) garden. The region preserves literary sites including the Maison Littéraire de Victor Hugo in Bièvres, where the writer spent his final years, and the Maison Fournaise in Chatou, which served as a subject in Renoir's paintings. The Musée de la Toile de Jouy documents the history of regional textile production. Architectural features range from the medieval Donjon de Houdan to the Château de Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas' neo-Gothic residence. Fort de Sucy represents late 19th-century military architecture, while Le Cyclop stands as a monumental metal sculpture by Jean Tinguely. These locations demonstrate the historical and cultural development of the region from medieval times through the modern era.
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