Archaeology day

The garden team were fascinated to see how the estate fitted within the wider landscape and to have it interpreted by the archaeologists was really thought provoking seeing why gate ways and foot paths were where they are.
Phil Griffiths, Trengwainton Head Gardener
Archaeology Day up Madron Carn
Archaeology Day up Madron Carn
Map of Madron Carn
Archaeology Day up Madron Carn
Madron Carn Medieval cross
Rhododendron
Gareth, gardener at Trengwainton on left with Phil, Head gardener on right
Adam explaining a map to us

On a windy November day Cornwall Archaeology Unit ran a fascinating workshop for our group and we were also joined by the Trengwainton garden staff and volunteers. 

Madron Carn, also known as Trengwainton Carn, is part of the Bolitho Estate and is a stones throw from Trengwainton garden.  In 2009 a four year project started to manage infected Rhododendrons which had taken over the Carn.  Rhododendrons were cut and burned to eradicate the problem, thereby enabling heathland plants to grow again. 

The clearance also opened up an opportunity to record the incredible archaeology of the site.  Anna Lawson-Jones of Cornwall Archaeology Unit managed the clearance and on our archaeology day we were able to learn from her about this massive undertaking and what the clearance uncovered.

In the afternoon we were joined by Anna's colleague, Adam Sharpe, who further explained, from the point of view of an archaeologist, how Trengwainton garden sits within it's wider Penwith landscape.  We also walked around Trengwainton with Adam and discussed certain aspects of the garden.

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It was nice that it was a 2 way conversation, using Gareth’s local knowledge to fill in the gaps / stories that the archaeologists were unsure of.
Phil Griffiths, Trengwainton Head Gardener