Familiarise yourself by reading more about the history and practice of walled kitchen gardening (see publications). Old maps will indicate structures and boundaries, and archive material may include lists or details of what was there. Look for signs of old structures, such as recesses for roof flashing, white painted walls, soot blackening suggesting furnaces or vents, or different types of brick. Many of the secrets of the walled garden lie underground, but when excavating take care not to destroy important features: take it gently! Try some smaller test digs, or even dowsing to locate underground pipes or tanks. Please contact us if you’d like us to assess the historical significance of features in your walled garden, and advice on restoration.