Wall Surrounding Sunken Garden Approximately 30 Metres South Of Blands Farmhouse, With Tunnel Entrances

SD 66 NW TATHAM

2/72 Wall surrounding sunken garden 4-10-1967 approx. 30 metres south of Blands Farmhouse, with tunnel entrances

GV II

Retaining wall around garden, early C19th. Sandstone rubble. Roughly circular on plan, with buttressed straight section of wall on west side. Contains 7 bee boles with projecting flagstone caps. Part of the wall on the north side, together with an 8th bee bole, has recently collapsed (December 1984). At the north-west side there are stone steps leading to the upper garden level, and a doorway which leads to an underground tunnel running in 2 directions, initially within the retaining wall. These tunnels connect with a network of underground passages. There has been much speculation about the history of the site, but discussions with the grandson of 'Perpetual' Arthur Burrow, recorded by Baldwin Bent of Wray in 1935, confirm the view that this Arthur Burrow constructed the sunken garden from quarry waste and constructed tunnels within the walls to connect it with old coal workings. This Arthur (the second, 1759-1827) was a local lay preacher, was apprenticed as a blacksmith, and was known as 'Perpetual' because he was said to construct perpetual motion machines at Blands. Some of the underground water courses may be connected with his experiments.

Listing NGR: SD6250569639