The Great Pagoda, Kew Gardens Stock Image

The Great Pagoda was designed by Sir William Chambers and completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, the founder of the botanic gardens at Kew. It is a ten-storey octagon tower, standing at almost 50m and each level is 30cm narrower than the one below.It offered one of the earliest and finest bird’s eye views of London.At the time of its construction it was considered so unusual that people were unconvinced it would remain standing.