Heatwave reveals Blenheim Palace’s ‘lost’ 18th century garden

The prolonged spell of hot, dry weather has revealed the hidden outline of Blenheim Palace’s historic 300-year-old parterre, offering a rare glimpse of the formal garden that once graced the grounds.

The term parterre is taken from the French word meaning ‘on the ground’ and refers to an ornamental, formal garden arranged around flower beds, paths and symmetrical patterns.

The original parterre was created in 1705 by royal gardener Henry Wise and stretched across the full width of the palace and was surrounded by a high stone wall with bastions.

The continued dry weather has uncovered parch marks highlighting the outline of the garden, which was dismantled by renowned landscape gardener Lancelot “Capability” Brown when he transformed the gardens in the 1760s.

Andy Mills, head gardener at Blenheim Palace, said: “The excessively dry weather has given us a fascinating bird’s-eye view into Blenheim’s past, allowing us to trace the intricate design and scale of the original parterre. It’s a brilliant reminder of the formal gardens that came before and the layers of history that continue to shape the Palace’s landscape.”

Andy has a bold 10-year plan to restore and transform the stunning Formal Gardens at Britain’s Greatest Palace – the biggest change to its 90 acres of gardens in over 100 years. His 10-year vision will see the reintroduction of many ‘lost’ features and elements which have disappeared across the last three centuries.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.blenheimpalace.com