Uncovering the past

This week has seen a new and very exciting project beginning on the far side of the deer park. We are working on uncovering a series of paths that were laid out during the Second World War when Attingham was home to an American airforce base. These paths have been buried for the last 60 years as the base was abandoned after the war and nature took over the concrete and brick; now we are revealing them with plans to allow public access to the area as part of the new walk that will be 'opened' in October this year. It's fascinating work, following the main path through the trees and discovering offshoots that would have led to billet huts and storage sheds. In just under one day we managed to uncover the first 55 metres of path. As a former archaeology student, I'm loving digging up the past and exploring this historical site!

The site before we start work

Exploratory trenches to find the path

The first few metres emerge...

Atten-shun! Tom and Bob show us how its done

A smaller path leading off toward the deer park fence

A storage room of some sort?

We will continue to reveal the path over the next few weeks. Watch this space!

Ooh, and while I'm here, a quick plug for the Attingham Walled Garden BBQ this Friday evening - delicious food including Attingham venison sausages and salads from the garden. Anyone is welcome to come along.

House of Beasts

Attingham is hosting another exhibition of contemporary art named House of Beasts. It comprises of around 40 separate works, many inside the mansion but several outside in the park and Walled Garden. Each piece relates in some way to the animals found on the estate, wild and domesticated, past and present. Many of the pieces are made up of bone, feathers or actual animals but none were harmed in the making of the artworks. It's an interesting collection that should spark off some good debates so come and have a look - here are some pictures of some of the pieces that can be found outside around the Park:

'Synthetic Worlds' by Ruth Claxton

'The Interlopers' by Tessa Farmer

Another of Tessa Farmer's series

'(Incorruptible) Fawn' by Henry Krokatsis

'Swan' by Daphne Wright