Page 5 - Oundle Life

of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Sadly for Sir Thomas, he did not live to see
his dream fully realised. He was under a great deal of pressure politically and financially, and as it became more difficult to practice his faith he became a broken man, dying in 1605, weeks before the failed Gunpowder plot. At least
he was not around to see his hot headed son Francis arrested and die in prison for his part in the conspiracy later the same year.
So Lyveden ‘New Bield‘ was abandoned unfinished and without a roof, standing neglected for hundreds of years. Its importance as a rare untouched Elizabethan garden survival was recognised by the National Trust in 1922 who have cared for it ever since. Today it remains a stunningly beautiful place to visit, full of wildlife of every kind enjoying the tranquility. Volunteers offer a warm welcome to visitors and an excellent audio guide to lead history hunters around the lodge and gardens. However deck
chairs tempt those who just want to relax and enjoy the natural beauty, perhaps with a picnic. The moats are full of amphibians, waterfowl, and aquatic plants, with pond dipping a
regular activity in the school holidays. The rural setting enhances the recently re-planted orchards, and the charming tea room delivers the quintessential cream tea experience that the National Trust does so well.
Sir Thomas Tresham may not have lived to enjoy his ‘New Bield’ at Lyveden over 400 years ago, but his pleasure garden is a wonderful place for us to visit today. Perfect for a winter walk for all ages.
For more information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyveden