FORMAL SPLENDOUR!
Excavation reveals historic 16th century garden of national significance, writes Ian Hodgson
Agarden from the 16th century, previously undocumented, has been unearthed by HS2 railway excavations near Birmingham.
The layout of the massive garden, dating from the decades either side of 1600, and the remains of Coleshill Manor were found to be in an exceptional state of preservation. The remains of the manor and an octagonal moat were originally picked up by air photography. Owned by Sir Robert Digby, the house and garden were built in the modern style of the day, with the gardens measuring some 300m (950ft) from end to end. He built his home to show off his new wealth and status after marrying an Irish heiress.
The previously unknown gardens parallel the impressive ornamental gardens at Kenilworth Castle and Hampton Court Palace. The garden was adapted over time, with additions such as pavilions. Finds included smoking pipes, coins and musket balls.
“This is one of the most exciting Elizabethan gardens that’s ever been discovered in this country,” said English garden expert Dr Paul Stamper. “The scale of preservation at this site is really exceptional, adding considerably to our knowledge of English gardens around 1600. There have only been three or four investigations of gardens of this scale over the past 30 years, including Hampton Court, Kirby in Northamptonshire and Kenilworth Castle, but this one was entirely unknown. The garden doesn’t appear in historical records, there are no plans of it and it’s not mentioned in any letters or visitors’ accounts.”
Digby, who died in 1618, divided his time between England and Ireland. He was in Warwickshire in November 1605 at the time of the Gunpowder Plot and some suspects were with him the day preceding the infamous event.