News > Castle Fraser gardens give up secrets
Castle Fraser gardens give up secrets
03/09/2010
An ambitious archaeological project to uncover historic gardens is underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Castle Fraser, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.
An ambitious archaeological project to uncover historic gardens is underway at the National Trust for Scotland’s Castle Fraser, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.
Trust experts hoped to find evidence of the castle’s 17th century designed landscape, which was quite different to the sweeping lawns and gardens which are currently enjoyed by visitors to the Aberdeenshire estate.
A late 18th-century plan of the estate survives today, showing the more formal layout of straight avenues and walled and hedged yards and gardens that once clustered around the castle.
A dig to discover just what physical remains could be found got underway on 29 August, directed by Aberdeenshire company Murray Archaeological Services Ltd. Most of the archaeologists working on the site are volunteers, and S1 pupils from Alford Academy will spend a morning helping out and learning what archaeologists do.
Trust archaeologist Shannon Fraser said:
“The gardens at Castle Fraser have undergone a lot of change in their time. In the early 1600s, the first Lord Fraser spent vast sums transforming his relatively ordinary house into the splendid residence we see today. At the same time, he created elaborate gardens as a suitably impressive setting. But fashions change, and nearly 200 years later Fraser’s formal landscape was largely swept away in favour of more informal lawns, parkland and woodland.
“Our research so far tells us that the Privy Garden – that is, a private garden designed for family and influential friends to enjoy – was likely to have been established around the time that the east wing was built, in 1633/4. A long gallery in this wing would have had a wonderful view of this enormous garden. Catching some traces of this lost garden through our excavations will get us a bit closer to the gardeners who once worked to make it beautiful, and to the people who passed pleasant hours here.
“This information will also help to ensure that future Trust activities here are undertaken in a way that will help protect the archaeology for future generations.”
A garden diary dating from 1796/97 records that the 17th century garden was demolished, with stone walls dismantled, and earth and plants removed - some being re-used in the 18th-century walled garden that visitors enjoy today.
Site director Hilary Murray said:
“Amazingly, we have uncovered traces of one edge of the 17th century garden, with part of a path and even the planting holes of some of the original plants.”
The archaeologists are also unearthing 17th century pottery from broken bowls and jugs – these would have been in the castle middens, which would then be spread on the garden as fertilizer. Window glass and lead has also been discovered that must have come from the castle itself.
A similar project gets underway at Fyvie Castle later this month.
Trust experts hoped to find evidence of the castle’s 17th century designed landscape, which was quite different to the sweeping lawns and gardens which are currently enjoyed by visitors to the Aberdeenshire estate.
A late 18th-century plan of the estate survives today, showing the more formal layout of straight avenues and walled and hedged yards and gardens that once clustered around the castle.
A dig to discover just what physical remains could be found got underway on 29 August, directed by Aberdeenshire company Murray Archaeological Services Ltd. Most of the archaeologists working on the site are volunteers, and S1 pupils from Alford Academy will spend a morning helping out and learning what archaeologists do.
Trust archaeologist Shannon Fraser said:
“The gardens at Castle Fraser have undergone a lot of change in their time. In the early 1600s, the first Lord Fraser spent vast sums transforming his relatively ordinary house into the splendid residence we see today. At the same time, he created elaborate gardens as a suitably impressive setting. But fashions change, and nearly 200 years later Fraser’s formal landscape was largely swept away in favour of more informal lawns, parkland and woodland.
“Our research so far tells us that the Privy Garden – that is, a private garden designed for family and influential friends to enjoy – was likely to have been established around the time that the east wing was built, in 1633/4. A long gallery in this wing would have had a wonderful view of this enormous garden. Catching some traces of this lost garden through our excavations will get us a bit closer to the gardeners who once worked to make it beautiful, and to the people who passed pleasant hours here.
“This information will also help to ensure that future Trust activities here are undertaken in a way that will help protect the archaeology for future generations.”
A garden diary dating from 1796/97 records that the 17th century garden was demolished, with stone walls dismantled, and earth and plants removed - some being re-used in the 18th-century walled garden that visitors enjoy today.
Site director Hilary Murray said:
“Amazingly, we have uncovered traces of one edge of the 17th century garden, with part of a path and even the planting holes of some of the original plants.”
The archaeologists are also unearthing 17th century pottery from broken bowls and jugs – these would have been in the castle middens, which would then be spread on the garden as fertilizer. Window glass and lead has also been discovered that must have come from the castle itself.
A similar project gets underway at Fyvie Castle later this month.
