The outline of a ‘lost’ 17th century garden has been revealed at a stately British home following the record heatwave and long drought.
Beneath the parched grass was an ornate garden design being rediscovered after more than 350 years at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
It turns out, the ornamental arrangement of flower beds and paths known as ‘The Great Parterre’ was created for the 1st Duke of Devonshire around 1699 and built along the south façade of the English estate.
The elaborate, perfectly symmetrical garden measured 473-ft-long (144m) by 227-ft wide (69m), all of which followed the fashion of the day for formal gardens.
It only flourished for 30 years before being covered over and replaced with a new design around 1730.
A spokesperson for Chatsworth House Trust said after temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F) in May, June and July, and with the “exceptionally dry” start to July, the lawn was “parched enough for history to reveal itself once again”.
They further explained: “As the grass that was laid to replace the flowerbeds and paths has shorter roots, it burns more quickly when temperatures are high and dry, creating a contrast and temporarily revealing the swirling patterns of the First Duke’s original garden underneath.”
Home to the Devonshire family for 16 Generations, the historical garden now makes up the south lawn, part of the 105-acre garden at Chatsworth House.
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