Lydiard Park - The Standing Structures, Preliminary Archaeological Assessment, 2004

In 2004 Caroe & Partners, led by Jonathan Saunders RIBA AABC, were appointed as Conservation Architects to the Lydiard Park Landscape Restoration Project. Their role was to investigate and evaluate the condition of the built features and structures within the park, draw up all necessary plans for their repair and oversee implementation of the works.

Their preliminary assessment of the standing structures was complemented by archaeological investigations carried out by Wessex Archaeology.

The introduction to assessment states:

'This report is intended to summarise the preliminary investigation of the standing buildings which comprise the main surviving elements of the park buildings serving Lydiard House: the retaining wall of the dam forming the northern margin of the artificial lake; the boat-house or plunge bath at the north-western angle of the lake; the semi-subterranean ice-house; and the wall of the walled-garden'.

The report puts greatest emphasis on the Dam Wall as it was deteriorating rapidly. A large portion of the wall had collapsed into the undergrowth below its north face and the whole structure was in jeopardy.