The recent UK heatwave has exposed the remains of an ornate 17th-century garden design at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The patterns of former flowerbeds and paths have become visible under the scorched grass of the South Lawn.
Head of gardens Steve Porter said the designs, dating back to 1699, were known to exist beneath the lawn but are normally hidden by lush grass. The dry weather has made the outlines of paths and flowerbeds clearly visible.
Chatsworth House and its 105-acre garden are home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family.
Earlier this year, similar conditions revealed the 'ghost' of Clumber House, an 18th-century mansion in Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, demolished in 1938. The outlines of rooms and corridors appeared as stone foundations heated the ground faster than surrounding earth.
An archaeological dig is now planned at Clumber Park to investigate whether cellars discovered during a 2016 dig are still accessible.
