Digging Deeper: Archaeology at A la Ronde
A new exhibition on the theme of ‘Archaeology at A la Ronde’ , starts with Mary Parminter’s original handwritten will from 1849. The tantalising description in her will of a garden lost to time inspired a search for evidence with an archaeological excavation to find the lost landscape elements.
‘This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Parminter of A la Ronde’
Mary’s will was signed on 11th October 1848 with an alteration added on 18th December 1849, the day she died. The Parminter cousins, particularly Mary, created A la Ronde and what she bequeaths in her will gives a snapshot of the estate at this moment in time.
Mary leaves in her will ‘the urn obelisk fountain Shellary hot house greenhouses sundial ornamental seats and ornamental gates and lattice work which shall be in or about my gardens shrubberies walks and grounds at A la Ronde’.
Many of these items have been lost to time and later occupants altered the landscape. This tantalising description in her will inspired the search for evidence with an archaeological excavation to find the lost landscape elements.
Aims of the excavations
· To search for lost elements of the historic designed landscape
· To discover the reasons for the brick arches on the lawn
- To investigate the lost footpath on the ha-ha lawn
· To find any evidence of the Shellary mentioned in Mary’s will
Finds from the 2023 dig, the surprise finds from the bee garden and other archaeology from 1995 are on display alongside Mary’s will and a section of a demolished obelisk. Interactive activities and a space to learn about what it is like to be an archaeologist will also be on offer.
You can visit the exhibition upstairs at A la Ronde from March 4th to November 2nd during opening hours, 10:30 – 4, Tuesday to Sunday.
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