Inveresk Lodge, Gardens

NT37SW 162.01 3490 7185

NT 3490 7185 The excavation of foundation and service trenches in the grounds of Inveresk Lodge was monitored. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered.

A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland

S Stronach 1999

The current layout of Inveresk Lodge Garden is a relatively new development, having been implemented in 1961. It was designed as an example of a small, low maintenance garden, devoid of formal paths in order to give the garden size. Whilst some original features of the garden were kept (the terrace walk, greenhouse) others such as the aviary were removed and new features including the summerhouse and sundial introduced.

Previous iterations of Inveresk Lodge Garden are important, although bare little relation to the current layout. Nothing is known about the early garden when the house was first built although at an early stage the Terrace Walk was built along the northern wall. By 1824 there was an informal garden, which was made formal under plans by James Hay in 1851. The garden ground was extended to the east after 1851 and to the south after 1891. The cultivated garden was greatly extended and intensified from 1911 under the care of the Bruntons. These alterations were later largely swept away. This was due to flooding (1947) by the rise of the River Esk just over the wall at the bottom of the garden. As a result the lower garden area, where the Bruntons developed aviaries and a fruit and vegetable garden, were seriously affected.

The Terrace Walk along the northern wall is the earliest surviving garden feature. The use of bricks for the terrace wall suggests that it is not contemporary with the house, but was a later addition.

(Information from NTS, February 2013)

Information from NTS

NT 34828 71719 As part of East Lothian Archaeology Fortnight and the commemoration of the Battle of Pinkie, The National Trust for Scotland carried out a community excavation with the intention of establishing the location of the garden within the possible movement and retreat of troops in 1547.

A full metal detector survey was carried out, 7–11 September 2013, with the help of the Scottish Detector Club and uncovered nearly 200 finds. Following this, a series of small test trenches were excavated, which uncovered medieval pottery and the remains of aviaries associated with the early 19th-century occupation of the lodge by the Brunton family.

Archive: The National Trust for Scotland and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: The National Trust for Scotland

Daniel Rhodes, The National Trust for Scotland, 2013

(Source: DES)