A GRAND terraced garden with a marble fountain and a walled vineyard have been uncovered in the grounds of Croft Castle.
The formal 17th Century gardens were hidden beneath parkland on two sides of the mansion near Leominster and have been unearthed as part of a major excavation by Herefordshire Archaeology and The National Trust.
Evidence suggests the gardens were created in two phases, the first beginning around 1600 and the second circa 1700, when a large elaborate extension was added.
They were swept away for the creation of a landscaped park 50 years later.
County archaeologist Dr Keith Ray, who is directing the project, said: "The excavations have provided a date for the origin and development of the gardens and indicate the wealth and close government connections the Croft family had in the 16th and 17th centuries."
Findings of the dig will be revealed at a talk and tour of the site on Saturday, September 22.
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