Experts find old urns used as garden rubble

Shattered fragments of three beautifully sculpted, ornate urns have been discovered buried beneath one of the garden's temples.

The urns, which are thought to date from around 1720, had been crushed to use as stone foundations on another garden feature some 30 years later.

"It's fascinating, because it just goes to show people's changing attitudes," said Tom Oliver, project manager for the National Trust, which is currently recreating the gardens, near Earls Croome.

"People in those days were very unsentimental about things that had gone out of fashion.

"Ironically, being under a foot of soil has preserved them better than if they had not been smashed up, in which case they would probably have been stolen, sold to America or something like that.

"They've been kept perfectly preserved under the ground for hundreds of years."

Andrew Croft, of the Oxford Archaeological Unit, which has been working on the project, said: "It's really a most interesting find.

"Much of what is there has been left in situ but there's scope for further excavation in the future."

Archaeologists are working with the National Trust to restore the original gardens. They have been uncovering vital evidence as to what materials were used and where.

They were the first complete design by legendary gardener Capability Brown, and the Trust is taking great pains to restore their former glory.

Mr Oliver explained: "Because of the Victorians' disgust with what they regarded as hideously ugly Palladian architecture, the grounds and house were left pretty well alone throughout the 19th Century.

"This means that we have a really exciting opportunity to rebuild the gardens exactly as they were planned."

The grounds have been closed since February due to foot and mouth and only reopened three weeks ago. They are open Friday to Monday inclusive. Admission is £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and is free to National Trust members.