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Drought reveals hidden formal gardens at Chatsworth House

Known as ‘The Great Parterre’, the elaborate ornamental garden was created around 1699 for the 1st Duke of Devonshire to complement the newly completed South Front of Chatsworth House. Measuring approximately 473 feet by 227 feet, the formal arrangement of flower beds, gravel paths and intricate swirling patterns reflected the grand garden style that dominated late 17th-century Europe. The historic layout was removed around 1730 during a redesign commissioned by the 3rd Duke of Devonshire, when the parterre was covered over and replaced with a new landscape design. This summer’s exceptionally hot and dry conditions have temporarily brought the lost garden back into view. The contrast has appeared because the grass covering the former flower beds and pathways has shallower root systems than the surrounding areas, causing it to dry out and brown more rapidly during periods of intense heat and drought. The resulting crop marks have revealed the intricate geometry of the original garden beneath the lawn.