Re-creation of lost Elizabethan Garden to begin after thorough research.
Work on the re-creation of the magnificent lost Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire will begin in late summer 2007 (subject to planning permission). English Heritage has spent the last two years carrying out a programme of detailed research to inform the scheme, including two seasons of archaeological investigation on the site of the Elizabethan garden.
The excavations identified the overall dimensions of the original Elizabethan Garden as one acre, slightly smaller than the area of the Elizabethan-style beds laid out on its site in the 1970’s. The discovery of the octagonal base of a stunning Renaissance fountain has also helped experts to determine the correct location of the garden’s centre and its four quarters, which were wrongly positioned in the 1970’s.
Moreover, this archaeological research confirms the accuracy of much of the detailed description of the garden written by one Robert Langham, an eye-witness to the visit made to Kenilworth by Queen Elizabeth I in July 1575. His description, which takes the form of a letter, is the most complete account of a great Elizabethan garden to survive from the 16th century, and many of the aspects of the garden it describes have now been corroborated by physical evidence.
Elizabeth I gave Kenilworth Castle to her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1563. He received the Queen here on at least four occasions over the course of more than a decade, hopeful to the last that she might agree to marry him. The magnificent garden was one of his many improvements to the great castle and was complete by 1575. A dominant element of the garden was the balustrated terrace which ran along the north face of the Norman keep, and on which were great ornamental features, including spheres and obelisks and the Dudley family badges of the bear and ragged staff.
One of the challenges of determining the likely layout of the garden was reconciling the archaeological evidence and the measurements given by Langham, with expert understanding of Elizabethan garden design. After much research, English Heritage now believes the grass paths which divided the quarters of the garden were 18 foot wide, made up of a central sandy path bordered by fine turf. At the centre was a spectacular white marble fountain made up of an eight-sided basin, adorned with carved panels. These panels showed mythological scenes relating to water and the seas, modelled on contemporary illustrations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Rising from the centre of the pool were two ‘Atlantes’ great male figures, standing back to back and holding a huge bowl from which the water cascaded.
According to Langham, there was also a great aviary (30 foot long by 14 foot wide and 20 foot high) built against the curtain wall, its arched windows closed off with fine wire mesh and lavishly decorated with carved features resembling great precious stones. His letter describes garden air as rich with bird-song and the sweet smell of herbs and fruit trees.
John Watkins, Head of Gardens and Landscape at English Heritage said:
“The archaeological excavation and historical and literary research undertaken over the past two years will enable us to re-create one of the best understood 16th-century gardens in England. This research has also revealed a more complex and sumptuous garden than was first envisaged. Re-creating this Elizabethan garden will give pleasure to generations of visitors to Kenilworth Castle while providing an important education tool for children studying Tudor history. The process of understanding it, and of re-creating it, will add considerably to current understanding of the culture and arts of this period.”
Jeremy Wright MP for Rugby and Kenilworth said: “Kenilworth Castle is a wonderful focus for interest in the Elizabethan period and a great asset for the town. I am confident that this recreated garden will make the castle an even more rewarding place to visit and bring more visitors to the town, which I welcome.”
The first stage of the work to reconstruct the garden will involve the formation of the terrace and layout of the paths. Planting will start this autumn and the rest of the architectural features including the fountain, aviary, terrace steps and arbours will be installed in spring 2008. The work will continue into next year ready for opening in summer 2008.
Kenilworth Castle was the glory of medieval England. It was the setting for pageantry, romance and political intrigue for over eight centuries and now attracts some 100,000 visitors per year.
For further press information or for an artist’s illustration of the garden please contact:
Helen Barnett on 020 7 973 3251
email: Helen.barnett@english-heritage.org.uk
Helen Bowman on 020 7 973 3252
email: Helen.bowman@english-heritage.org.uk
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