Work on the recreation of the lost Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle is to begin this summer at a cost of around £1.9m.
If planning permission is given the go ahead, 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 first stage of the work will involve the formation of the terrace and layout of the paths.
English Heritage has spent the last two years carrying out research on the scheme, including two seasons of archaeological investigation on the site.
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 Renaissance fountain has also helped experts to determine the correct location of the garden’s centre and its four quarters.
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 an 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.

A dominant element of the garden was the balustrated terrace, which ran along the north face of the Norman keep, and on which were 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.

After 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 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.

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 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.”
Proposals for the Elizabethan Garden will be discussed at a public meeting at Kenilworth Castle on Monday, April 16. People wishing to attend should reserve their place by phoning 852078.
Plans of the proposed garden will also be on display in the Stables at Kenilworth Castle from April 16.

source : www.kenilworthtoday.co.uk