THE REMAINS of an 18th century walled garden has appeared at Culzean Castle.

Archaeologists discovered the remains of a garden, buried below the Fountain Court in front of Ayrshire’s renowned castle.

The discovery was made as part of a major project to improve the drainage at the Fountain Court and to make it suitable for staging large public events.

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During the excavation of a new herringbone pattern of drains and the installation of an irrigation sprinkler system, the stone walls of the garden were located.

National Trust Scotland (NTS) believe that the walled garden functioned as a kitchen garden for the castle with trees lining the south-facing walls of the terraces, from about 1733 to 1782.

As was the fashion in the late 18th century, the kitchen garden was moved away from the immediate view of the house and the former site was given over to wider views of the landscape. 

A new walled garden was built to the south-east, just out of sight of the castle and the date stone above the gate is 1786. 

It is likely that a lot of the stone used for this new garden, the existing walled garden at Culzean, would have been re-used from the original one.

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In the middle of the 19th century the area below the terraces was used as a bowling green before the large, ornate fountain was installed in 1876. 

The area has since come to be known as Fountain Court. 

Prior to the 16th century it is likely that this area was a narrow glen that formed a defensive barrier to the ridge upon which the medieval castle stood.

Derek Alexander, head of archaeological services for the NTS said: “It is so exciting to see part of the original walled garden at Culzean.

“Although it was marked on the estate map, until now we never knew that any of it survived below the immaculate turf of the Fountain Court. 

“This work has given us the perfect opportunity to explore a hidden aspect of Culzean’s past and, once the lawn is re-seeded, I can’t imagine the gardeners will want us digging more holes.”