England
Gloucestershire

Lydney Park

Summary
An Arts and Crafts style garden surrounding the stately home of Lydney Park, the home of Viscount Bledisloe. In the grounds are the remains of a Roman encampment.

The Gardens
Lydney Park Gardens comprise 8 acres set in the larger landscape park of Lydney House, in a secluded valley site. The house is Victorian, though the park dates to the 17th century, and the garden to the 20th century. A woodland garden planted with azaleas, magnolias, flowering shrubs, and rhododendrons runs along the valley, with a paved terrace above. The formal gardens are very enjoyable in Spring, wihen the daffodils are in bloom.

The Roman Camp
Lydney Park Temple comprises a Roman temple and villa complex built upon an earlier Iron Age hill fort. The hill fort is quite extensive, covering some 4.5 acres across the tip of a promontory, and offers excellent views across the Severn valley. The fort was occupied as early as the 1st century, and remained in occupation during the Roman period, when iron ore was mined at the site.

One 50 ft long shaft of the iron mines can be seen today, running under the fort. In the 4th century a temple complex was added to the southern half of the fort site. The temple appears to have been dedicated to Nodens Mars, the Romano-Celtic god of hunting and healing. The site was excavated in the 1920s, and yielded over 8,000 coins, carved statues, mosaics, and bronze reliefs. There is a museum at the site.

JRR Tolkein, author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, worked on the excavations of the camp, and is said to have been heavily influenced by folk tales surrounding the area in developing the mythology of his stories of Middle Earth.

Location
Between Lydney and Aylburton on the A48

Admission
Fee charged.

Contact
Lydney Park Estate
Old Park
Lydney
Gloucestershire
GL15 6BU
Tel 01594 842027
Fax 01594 842027
Location map

Related:
Cotswolds