原名(ming)范文穆公祠(ci),位于市(shi)郊石湖行春橋畔茶磨嶼下,1963年(nian)被列(lie)為蘇州市(shi)文物保護單位。
范成大(da)(1126-1193),字致能,號石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)居士。漢族,平江吳(wu)(wu)郡(郡治在今(jin)江蘇吳(wu)(wu)縣)人(ren)。南宋(song)詩(shi)人(ren)。他陸游、楊萬里、尤袤合稱"中(zhong)興(xing)四(si)大(da)詩(shi)人(ren)"。官(guan)至參知政事、資政殿大(da)學士。曾奉命(ming)(ming)出使(shi)(shi)金邦,堅強(qiang)不屈,不辱使(shi)(shi)命(ming)(ming),幾乎被(bei)殺。使(shi)(shi)金途(tu)中(zhong)所作(zuo)行(xing)詩(shi),表(biao)達了渴(ke)望國(guo)(guo)家統一的強(qiang)烈愛國(guo)(guo)主義(yi)思想。石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)是范大(da)成歸隱之地,依隨地勢高下,建造亭臺樓榭,遍栽花木(mu),有千巖觀(guan)、天鏡閣、盟(meng)鷗(ou)亭、玉雪(xue)坡、農(nong)圃堂(tang)諸勝。宋(song)孝宗(zong)題"石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)"二字賜之,遂有石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)別墅之稱。別墅因人(ren)而名盛,與湖(hu)(hu)山風光相(xiang)得益彰,為時人(ren)所傾(qing)倒,競相(xiang)賦詩(shi)作(zuo)文,成為一時盛事。淳熙十(shi)三(san)年(1186年),范成大(da)在石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)所作(zuo)《四(si)時田園雜興(xing)六(liu)十(shi)首(shou)》,是他一生田園詩(shi)的代表(biao)作(zuo)。著有《石(shi)湖(hu)(hu)集》一百三(san)十(shi)六(liu)卷(juan)及《驂鸞錄》、《吳(wu)(wu)船錄》、《桂(gui)海虞衡(heng)志》、《吳(wu)(wu)郡志》等。
范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)成(cheng)大(da)的(de)石(shi)湖別墅歷年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久遠,早已(yi)湮沒。明(ming)正德十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1520年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),御史盧雍于石(shi)湖茶磨山(shan)北、行春(chun)橋(qiao)南(nan)建(jian)范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)文穆公(gong)祠,以紀(ji)念范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)成(cheng)大(da)。次年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),將(jiang)范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)成(cheng)大(da)手書《四時田園雜(za)興六十(shi)首》摹(mo)刻石(shi)碑(bei),嵌于祠壁(bi)。萬歷四十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1612年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))參議范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)允(yun)臨重(zhong)建(jian)。崇(chong)禎十(shi)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1639年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))巡撫張國維(wei)修。清乾隆間(jian)宮廷畫(hua)家、蘇州人(ren)徐(xu)楊(yang)所作《盛世滋長(chang)圖》中(zhong),繪有(you)(you)祠宇(yu)全貌,依山(shan)臨湖,規(gui)模(mo)頗(po)宏。嘉慶(qing)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1798年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)來宗有(you)(you)修。同治年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)重(zhong)修。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)李根源先生前往訪(fang)古時,尚有(you)(you)祠宇(yu)三進(jin),享堂(tang)正中(zhong)供有(you)(you)范(fan)(fan)(fan)(fan)文穆公(gong)神主(zhu)。伺(si)候年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久失(shi)修,日漸傾圮。從1984年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)起,開始全面整修祠宇(yu),并將(jiang)西南(nan)側海潮寺劃(hua)入,1986年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)竣工開放,成(cheng)為石(shi)湖風景(jing)區的(de)主(zhu)要景(jing)點(dian)之一。
修復一新的(de)范(fan)成(cheng)大(da)祠(ci)(ci)背山面湖(hu),東向,有祠(ci)(ci)門、享(xiang)堂(tang)兩進,左(zuo)右(you)以(yi)廊相連,中為庭院。祠(ci)(ci)門額"范(fan)文穆公(gong)祠(ci)(ci)",面闊三(san)間(jian),硬山頂。享(xiang)堂(tang)面闊三(san)間(jian)16米,進深8米,硬山頂。堂(tang)內懸"壽(shou)櫟堂(tang)"匾(bian),有范(fan)成(cheng)大(da)塑(su)像。左(zuo)右(you)壁間(jian)嵌明代石刻田(tian)園詩碑(bei)七方(fang),詩、書、刻俱(ju)佳,堪稱珍(zhen)品。