| Title: |
The Curtain Rises, The Walled Garden, Archaeological Investigations, National Trust, Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland |
| Series: |
Northern Archaeological Associates unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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northern1-504264_186570.pdf (10 MB)
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
This forms part of a package of works which were conducted as part of 'The Curtain Rises' project, a two year restoration and representation scheme at Seaton Delaval Hall, part-funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund. It incorporated mitigation and monitoring works which included limited, targeted building recording, watching briefs, and small area excavations. This phase of recording included investigations linked to the Pleasure grounds, the walled garden and the mausoleum. The southern pleasure grounds at Seaton Delaval Hall are enclosed by a ha-ha, the corners of which are defined by four bastions. They have often been cited as an archetypal example of Vanbrugh’s ‘fortified’ garden design, although were not actually constructed until a number of years after the architect’s death. Stabilisation works conducted in relation to the NE, SE and NW bastion provided an opportunity to investigate and record the construction of the mid-18th-century structures and their relationship with the adjoining ha-ha. Investigations revealed that the adjoining gateways were later additions. Targeted investigations within the pleasure grounds revealed evidence of two previously lost substantial paths or trackways.
Only a small number of finds were recovered during the works, consisting mainly of 18th- to 20th-century pottery, glass and ceramic building materials. However, three sherds of Roman pottery, were found in a buried soil horizon in one of the trial trenches in the Pleasure Garden, which may hint at the presence of a contemporary settlement somewhere in the vicinity. Several medieval potsherds were also found.
The walled garden in believed to mainly date to the late 18th century. Work within this area comprised providing a comprehensive record of the garden walls before they were repaired, repointed and consolidated, including the erection of new brick buttresses. The dilapidated 20th century greenhouse was also recorded before it was dismantled. The garden forms one of a small group of Northumberland walled gardens, the development of which was shaped by the particular climatic and political pressures of the region. The asset is, an important feature of the Seaton Delaval landscape, and reflects the development of horticultural practice, as well as changing fashions, social customs, habits and attitudes over a 200-year period.
The mausoleum is located c.600m east of the main Hall complex. The building was never consecrated or put to its intended use. During archaeological monitoring the remains of three fireplaces and the base of a partition wall associated with the use of the building as a domestic dwelling were uncovered. |
| Author: |
Penny Middleton
Andrew Durkin
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| Publisher: |
Northern Archaeological Associates
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| Year of Publication: |
2021
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| Locations: |
| District: |
Northumberland |
| Parish: |
Seaton Valley |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Northumberland |
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Grid Reference: 432224, 576569 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
northern1-504264 |
| Report id: |
21/31 |
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| Note: |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Source: |
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| Created Date: |
23 Aug 2022 |
