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Description: | A landscape park of medieval origin which was developed in the 17th and 18 centuries. It is about 810 hectares. It is also the site of a Cistercian Abbey of Vaudey, founded in 1147, 1.5 km south of the Castle. The Castle gardens were laid out by George London, in about 1690 to the south and are shown in engravings from Beeverell, 1707 and Knyff and Kip, 1714. The gardens are laid out in formal and geometrical schemes included symmetrical parterres and foundations to south. There are enclosed kitchen gardens to the east, the 1300 metres North Avenue, and long approach drives to the south and south west. Developments from about 1720 are attributed to Stephen Switzer,which were sketched by William Stukeley in 1736. Stukeley's four drawings are of gardens to the south - parterre beneath southern door of Castle, and woodland and great avenue stretching for 1 km beyond. The circular area of woodland immediately beyond the parterre is crossed by radial avenues terminating in 'bastions', slightly raised viewing - points with rudimentary ha-ha on outer side. Outlines of several formal features survive, including long approach drives. These are both interrupted and diverted by a stream and lakes which divide the upper part of Grimsthorpe Park. Four Mile Riding, the Wern approach, crosses the lakes by a causeway, the Red Bridge; Chestnut Avenue passes round the southern end of the main lake. Landscaping well advanced 1768, when praised by Arthur Young, though main lake was not enlarged to present size until Capability Brown was called in, in 1771-72. Brown made several plans for alterations of grounds, including a design for an (unexecuted) sham bridge, to cross between lakes. The present causeway, the Red Bridge, probably made by John Grundy, who worked at Grimsthorpe from 1750s onwards. South parterre redeveloped in C19, with extensive rectangular lawn on central axis, paved pathways to left and right, with bedding, topiary, urns and sculpture. This now maintained in simplified form. Slightly raised rectangular grassed terrace on west side of Castle. On east side, walled kitchen garden designed by Lady Ancaster, in 1965. Laid out as two rectangular parterres, northern part geometrically divided with herbs and vegetable filling, southern planted with fruit trees. Herbaceous border and climbers on east wall. {6}{7}{8}{9}{10}
A park is recorded on the first edition c.1880 and c.1905 Ordnance Survey maps at Grimsthorpe Castle, Edenham. {1}{13}
During monitoring of two cable trenches, mid 16th century pottery, late 17th to 18th century clay pipe stems, animal bone, glass, a piece of lead and a ferrous nail were found in calbe trench 2. A possible demolition layer from a cottage was also revealed. An earthwork survey was carried out in the area of cable trench 2. A small rectangular enclosure around the hollow with low terraces on the eastern side, a bank and ditch to the northern side and an entranceway to the north east was recorded. It was interpreted as a small cottage enclosure with rear garden terraces. {14}{15} | Subjects: | General Archaeology | Temporal: | 1550 - 1799 | Source: | Lincolnshire County Council | Identifier: | http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/Re... | Go to resource |
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