Known originally as the Temple of Diana, this structure is modeled in part on Palladio's Villa Rotonda in Vicenze, Italy.  It is built on the grounds of Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, 25 miles north of York, England.

Castle Howard is one of the grandest private residences in the country and was built from 1699-1712 to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh.  Early in 1724 Vanbrugh sent the castle owner some designs for a pavilion for the SE corner of the castle grounds and he was pleased that the owner had chosen the Temple with Four porticos for that location.

By the time of Vanbrugh's death in 1726, the temple was still unfinished and another 10 years would pass before it was completed.  Essentially the pavilion was originally used as a place for refreshment and reading.  Beneath the temple is a cellar where servants would have stored and prepared food before serving it to the company above.

Because The Temple of Four Winds is situated on a site of high ground and looks across a wooded valley, it forms the perfect landscape setting for one of the finest Palladium buildings of Europe.

Today the pavilion is used for weddings and receptions.