sometimes of staggering proportions,

in the form of terraces, mounts and

walks. Sometimes these were modified

and incorporated into later designs,

sometimes they survive almost intact

as abandoned sites in the countryside.

In understanding and assessing

earthworks and other above-ground

features it is not excavation but the

skill and expertise of the field

archaeologist which are required,

togetherwith what might be described

as an awareness of the ‘archaeology of

trees’.

Here the pioneering work of

Christopher Taylor, continued by the

Royal Commission on Historical

Monuments of England, has been

crucial in recognising and raising

awareness of earthworks as abandoned

gardens of the medieval and later

periods.

Many, though not all, of these

gardens are in the areas around

Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire

with perhaps the 16th century garden

earthworks created by Sir Christopher

Hatton at Holdenby being the best

preserved of all.

One of the most important

consequences of the work undertaken

by Taylor and RCHME has been

recognition of earthworks previously

described as defensive features, moats

or fishponds, as garden earthworks.

One of the loveliest and most dramatic

examples of these must be Taylor’s

recognition of the earth and

waterworks surrounding Bodiam Castle

in East Sussex as a designed and not a

defensive landscape. This re-

interpretation can be duplicated,

though on a much less dramatic scale,

throughout the country. For example,

the medieval motte marked to the west

of the A1(M) opposite Cusworth Park

near Doncaster is, in fact, a prospect

mount. Providing a viewing platform

over the neighbouring estate, the

mount, for which detailed design

documentation exists, is not medieval

but a feature of the newly created mid-

18th century landscape park designed

by Richard Woods.

Of course, much of this is related to

abandoned gardens or to static features,

but parks and gardens also contain

dynamic, organic fabric in the form of

plants and, particularly in parks, of

trees. The designed or ornamental parks

of the 18th century may well have

incorporated already ancient trees for

an instant aesthetic sense of maturity

and set up a resonance of permanence

and social stability to be associated

with the owner and his family.Many of

these trees may stifi survive, bearing

the signs of a past, pre-ornamental,

management regime such as pollarding

or coppicing. Cropping the tree would

cease on its incorporation in an

ornamental landscape but it continues

to bear the marks of its former use and

so of a former economic environment

and landscape. This is what may be

called the ‘archaeology’ of trees.

Understanding the way in which trees

were managed in the past and being

able to recognise and plot the changes

and phases of different management

techniques is just as important in

understanding the chronology ofa park

or landscape as is understanding the

below ground archaeology. It is a part

of being able to plan sensitively for the

conservation and management of parks

and historic landscapes in the future.

Finally, this brings us to the reason

for considering an archaeological

investigation of a site. ‘Garden

archaeology’ in its widest sense, has a

use and application beyond that of

generating evidence for restoration

projects.

The techniques of archaeology, of

what Christopher Taylor has described

as “the scientific study of the past by

the examination of the material remains

left behind by previous generations”

could often make a valuable

contribution when incorporated as part

of the research undertaken in the

preparation of a management plan for

an historic park or garden. Yet any

form of archaeological investigation can

be expensive and the mere mention of

it is often daunting. As yet there are no

clear management guidelines to aid the

client or the landscape architect when

negotiating a brief or specification as

the framework within which the

archaeologist should work. However,

this situation may soon change.

The management of archaeology in

historic parks and gardens was one of

the core subjects of an English Heritage!

ICOMOS UK sponsored three-day

conference ‘Techniques and Uses of

Garden Archaeology’ at Strawbeny Hill

in June 1995. As a result of this

conference, ICOMOS UK has now

begun formulating guidelines for

garden archaeology which may also be

considered by English Heritage before

preparing its own guidelines.

Running parallel with this is the

creation of a database by the Gardens

and Landscape Team at English Heritage

which will hold a range of information

on sites where archaeological

investigation has taken place, on

techniques and uses and on assessments

and field studies. This database is

designed to be easily accessible and to

overcome the problem of so much

commissioned research becoming

buried in management plans some of

which have a circulation limited to the

owner of the site. The aim of this is to

improve communication and aware-

ness between professionals engaged in

the conservation or management of

the uses of garden archaeology and,

indeed, to raise awareness of some of

the findings. This database, together

with the technical advances being made

by English Heritage and the

management guidelines being prepared

by ICOMOS UK will help ensure both

the development of ‘garden

archaeology’ and a wider understanding

of its potential within the garden

conservation process.

FURTHER INFORMATION

‘The Archaeology of Gardens’,

Christopher Taylor. Shire Publications.

1988

‘Council for British Archaeology,

Research Report 78, Garden

Archaeology’ ed A. E. Brown. 1991.

English Heritage Conservation Bulletin,

March 1996, Lorna McRobie, Director,

Gardens and Landscape, English

Heritage.

‘Garden Archaeology at Kirby Hall and

Hampton Court’ in Current Archaeology

No 140 pp. 292-299, Brian Dix,

Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2 Bolton

House, Wooton Hall Park, Northampton

NN4 8BE

The proceedings of the Strawberry Hill

Conference will be published as Parts 1

and 2 of the Journal of Garden History

in 1997.

‘There by Design’: Field Archaeology in

Parks and Gardens is a conference jointly

organised by the Royal Commission on

The Historical Monuments of England

and the Garden History Society. To be

held on 29th November 1996 at The

Scientific Societies Lecture Theatre, New

Burlington Place, London. Further

information from RCHME, Kemble

Drive, Swindon SN2 2GZ.

“Garden archaeology’,

in its widest sense,

has a use and

application beyond

that of generating

evidence for

restoration

projects”

34

CONTEXT 51