Dry weather reveals historic ‘lost’ garden

The recent prolonged spell of dry weather has revealed a historic ‘lost’ garden at Chatsworth House, which is part of the Devonshire Group.

Recent record high temperatures and long periods without rain have revealed the outline of an ornate 17th Century garden design on Chatsworth’s South Lawn.

‘The Great Parterre’, an ornamental arrangement of flower beds and paths, was created for the 1st Duke of Devonshire around 1699, to complement the new South façade of the house.

It measured 473 ft by 227 ft and followed the fashion at the time for formal gardens.

It was covered over and replaced with a new design around 1730, in changes introduced by the 3rd Duke.

In a statement, Chatsworth said: “As the grass that was laid to replace the flowerbeds and paths has shorter roots, it burns more quickly when temperatures are high and dry, creating a contrast and temporarily revealing the swirling patterns of the First Duke’s original garden underneath.”