Elizabethan Gardens

I've just finished reading Elizabeth in the Garden, by English historian Trea Martyn. This is a study of the gardens created in an attempt to entertain and win the favour of Elizabeth the First, by her two closest advisers and rivals at her court Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and Robert Cecil, Lord Chancellor. Dudley created a romantic garden for her at his castle Kenilworth, which featured knot gardens and an aviary. It was the site of music, fireworks and masques to try to persuade the Queen to marry him.













Cecil's garden at his palace Theobalds, sounds even more spectacular. It's design was inspired by gardens in Italy such as the Villa d'Este. Martyn also looks at the symbolism of gardens, plants and flowers in Elizabethan times, and how important the garden was in the iconography of Elizabeth herself in paintings and poetry.



Martyn has a website where you can read more about the book. The fascinating news is that while both gardens were demolished long ago, there are plans to recreate them and in fact the gardens at Kenilworth have been recreated by English Heritage and are due to open in May 2009 (see picture above). After reading about all that went on there, I can't wait for an opportunity to visit.