Archaeology Meets Garden History in Major New Hertfordshire Study

Lost Gardens of Hertfordshire: The Archaeology of Designed Landscapes

By Tom Williamson and Anne Rowe
Paperback * £18.99 * ISBN 9781912260751

“This book is an invaluable addition to the county history and the wider literature of garden and landscape history, and a superb demonstration of historical landscape research carried out to the highest standards.” Deborah Spring, Author

University of Hertfordshire Press, together with Hertfordshire Association for Local History, is extremely proud to announce the publication of Lost Gardens of Hertfordshire: The Archaeology of Designed Landscapes, a groundbreaking volume by leading landscape historians Tom Williamson and Anne Rowe.

Drawing on decades of research, field survey, lidar analysis and documentary investigation, Williamson and Rowe uncover the extraordinary, often surprising stories behind 24 forgotten gardens and designed landscapes across the county. From grand eighteenth‑century schemes by Charles Bridgeman to enigmatic medieval moated enclosures, the book reveals how Hertfordshire’s gardens evolved, disappeared, and now survive as evocative archaeological sites.

At a time when interest in historic landscapes has never been stronger, Lost Gardens of Hertfordshire demonstrates how earthworks, abandoned terraces, woodland rides and long‑buried garden structures can transform our understanding of place, memory and design. The authors show how these sites illuminate broader themes in English garden history – continuity and change, shifting fashions, the influence of geology and topography, and the ambitions of the landowners who shaped them.

Beautifully illustrated and richly detailed, the book highlights sites ranging from the spectacular terrace earthworks at Benington to the once‑celebrated but now-lost early eighteenth‑century gardens at Gobions, Tring, Sacombe and Moor Park. It also brings to light smaller, enigmatic features – moated mounds, vanished orchards, degraded parterres – that have long been misinterpreted or overlooked.

This is an essential volume for anyone interested in Hertfordshire’s heritage, the evolution of English garden design and landscape archaeology. It will appeal to local historians, archaeologists, gardeners and general readers alike.

Book Details

Title: Lost Gardens of Hertfordshire: The Archaeology of Designed Landscapes
Authors: Tom Williamson and Anne Rowe
Publication Date: February 2026
Price: £18.99
ISBN: 9781912260751

For further information, please contact Christopher Dunkley, Marketing and Publicity Coordinator, c.dunkley@herts.ac.uk