Parched grass reveals 'lost' 17th Century garden
Prolonged dry weather at the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire has caused grass to wither, revealing the outlines of a 17th-century garden known as the Great Parterre. The garden, designed in 1699, is temporarily visible due to the different root depths of the modern lawn compared to the original pathways.
Why it matters
Demonstrates how extreme weather patterns can act as a tool for archaeological discovery, revealing historical landscapes that are otherwise hidden.
Image source, Chatsworth House Image caption, The prolonged dry weather has scorched the grass at Chatsworth, and uncovered the outline of a garden designed in 1699
The recent high temperatures have revealed the outline of an ornate and "lost" 17th Century garden at the Chatsworth Estate.
The Great Parterre, which is beneath the south lawn at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, was designed in 1699 for the 1st Duke of Devonshire, to complement the newly completed south facade of the house.
This is not the first time the European-style formal garden has been exposed due to the hot and dry weather - it was also revealed during dry spells in 2022 and 2018 .
A spokesperson for the estate said after temperatures exceeded 30C 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".
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