Past Talks
Garden Archaeology - a different kind of digging
Date: 19th May 2025
Speaker: Dr Stephen Wass
Stephen Wass gave us an insight into his work as an archaeologist, which includes research for his DPhil and commercial work. His DPhil is complete, but research continues, largely based around Hanwell Castle, near Banbury. His commercial work is often undertaken for the National Trust and involves working with other contractors and adhering to deadlines.
The British are very keen on visiting historic gardens, but this is not replicated among Europeans.
Art historians look at the symbolism and aesthetics, and consider the reasons for neglect. In the 1980s, the idea arose that historians needed to work to establish the basic facts about a garden’s origins. Extensive reconstruction took place at Hampton Court, where the layout of the late-17th century/early-18th century garden was recreated. Similarly, at Kenilworth Castle an Elizabethan garden was reconstructed and a vast excavation and reconstruction took place at Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire. These projects were not universally popular and by the 2000s funding was lacking.
More recent research tells a broader story and this is the focus at Hanwell Castle and Farnborough Hall (Warks).
Before excavation can commence, wide-ranging planning and research is undertaken. Permissions, methodology statements and risk assessments are prepared. The geology and topography of the target area is investigated. A Landscape Survey & Appraisal is undertaken which may include the use of LiDAR to map archaeological features which are not immediately visible from the ground or through traditional satellite images. The Historic Environment Record and field names maps are consulted for the wealth of information that they contain.
At Farnborough Hall, these investigations revealed a square moated area; debris from the 18th century when buildings which interrupted the view were demolished and the site of the original house.
Geophysics is employed to further identify remains beneath the soil. At Packwood House (Lapworth, Warks) a 17th century sundial garden was revealed to have been built on an Elizabethan moated garden.
The historic significance of any surviving plants and standing buildings is examined.
There can often be a need to know the dynamics of the family associated with historic houses and to be aware of their social and financial position over time.
Generally speaking, archaeologists are reluctant to excavate a site because of the damage to historical evidence in the ground. They, therefore, have a responsibility to make meticulous records.
At Hanwell Castle, a summer house, the so-called ‘House of Diversion’, from the 17th century was discovered. Of particular importance was the unearthing of a unique assemblage of terracotta garden urns from the period. It was considered that the gardens were laid out to encourage conversations that promoted contemporary scientific thinking in the Oxford area.
Dr Wass expressed the opinion that archaeology is little more than vandalism unless findings are published. To this end, he brought out his book, Seventeenth-century Water Gardens and the Birth of Modern Scientific Thought in Oxford: The Case of Hanwell Castle, in 2022.
Sally James