Merlin's Cave, Richmond Gardens, 1744

Designed by William Kent (1685-1748) and built in 1735, Merlin's Cave was one of a series of buildings commissioned by Queen Caroline (1683-1737) for the royal gardens at Richmond. This controversial structure contained a series of waxwork figures: Merlin, with his wand, sitting at a table with his secretary; Queen Elizabeth I with her nurse; King Henry VII's queen, Elizabeth of York; and finally Minerva, goddess of learning and the arts. There was also a small library of modern authors and a poet-in-residence: Stephen Duck

1735 1744 Authors Commissioned Contained Controversial Finally Merlin Merlins Minerva Richmond Viis Wand Waxwork

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