Lecture – “Gardens, Archaeology and Resistance”, Dr Stephen Wass

Stephen has carried out a series of archaeological investigations into landscape features of the park at Farnborough Hall revealing aspects of the design and features that were commissioned by the owners to enhance their enjoyment of the landscape. The preponderance of written sources have tended to record their interests and enthusiasms. By contrast, those who actually worked on the estate have largely been marginalized, leaving little or no trace in the archaeological records.  

 The talk is a light-hearted foray into what is a serious subject: Namely, the way in which some in society may have felt antagonistic to the established order of garden ownership and management. All hovered on the fringes of legality and largely carried out actions in secrecy. This talk reveals some seven examples from the early nineteenth century onwards of illicit activities revealed during recent studies of the engineering works in the garden and park at Farnborough. These range from the Farnborough zebra and a Lovers Tryst,  to Gentleman of the Road, Italian Prisoners of War, through to a Rock and Roll tribute tree.

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The Apple Store at Farnborough. Photo © Dr. Stephen Wass