 Garrick built the temple on land adjoining a villa that he had bought in October 1754 to serve as a country retreat . The villa 's riverside garden , a plot now known as Garrick 's Lawn , was separated from the main property by the road from Kingston upon Thames to Staines . Garrick commissioned the building of an elaborate grotto @-@ tunnel under the road , illuminated by 500 lanterns , to facilitate private access to the lawn from the house . 
