Dry weather exposes archaeological secrets at National Trust monasteries
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National Trust sites’ history uncovered thanks to summer drought
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- This summer's exceptionally hot and dry weather is revealing previously hidden historical structures at National Trust estates across the UK.
- Parch marks, where grass over buried walls dries quicker than surrounding areas, are exposing the outlines of ancient buildings.
- At Mottisfont in Hampshire, outlines of 13th to 16th-century monastery buildings, including a cloister, have become visible.
- Similarly, at Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, the dry conditions have revealed a large guest hall, indicating the abbey's historical capacity for visitors.
- Archaeologists note these rare glimpses offer new insights into the sites' oldest histories, with such occurrences becoming more frequent due to climate change.