A Lost Landscape: Unearthing A La Ronde's Secret Garden

A temporary exhibition, ‘Digging Deeper’, opens at National Trust A la Ronde on 4 March, showcasing archaeological discoveries that reveal a lost historic garden.  

The exhibition is inspired by Mary Parminter’s handwritten will from 1849, which offers a tantalising glimpse of the estate at that time. Mary’s will mentions features such as an ‘urn, obelisk, fountain, Shellary, hot house, greenhouses and sundial... which shall be in or about my gardens, shrubberies, walks and grounds at A la Ronde.’ This description sparked an archaeological investigation to find physical evidence of these lost landscape elements. 

In the summer of 2023, 90 volunteers, led by National Trust archaeologist Jim Parry, excavated two trenches, uncovering lost architectural features and an old perimeter path on the ha-ha lawn. The dig revealed a range of artifacts from across the millennia, including an ancient worked flint and early modern ceramics. The project involved the local community, with participation from the Lympstone and Exmouth Historical Societies, the Exmouth Deaf Academy, and students from the University of Exeter. 

Further discoveries were made in 2024 during work in the bee garden. Fragments of plaster with shells, similar to the decoration in the Shell Gallery, along with large crystals were found, suggesting the possible remains of the ‘Shellary’ mentioned in Mary’s will. These finds, along with others from the 2023 dig, and earlier archaeology from 1995 will be on display. Visitors can also view a section of a demolished obelisk, participate in interactive tasks, and learn about the experience of being an archaeologist. 

Jim Parry, National Trust Archaeologist said: ‘The excavation programme was a huge success both from what we uncovered and learnt about A La Ronde and from the broad reach of people who participated in the project. It has opened up new links with organisations, groups and individuals and the will to explore further the hidden history of A La Ronde.’ 

The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see history unearthed and to engage with the stories of the people who shaped the landscape at A la Ronde. By understanding the past, we can better appreciate the importance of preserving our historic gardens and landscapes for future generations. 

Visitors can explore the exhibition upstairs in the house from 4 March to 2 November, Tuesday to Sunday.