The grotto in Wanstead Park, after the volunteers cleared most of the ivy
ONE of the most historic features of a much-loved beauty spot has been restored to public view.
The remains of the grotto in Wanstead Park have become almost entirely covered in ivy since they were excavated in the early 1990s by archaeologists from the Museum of London.
But on Saturday January 8, a group of dedicated volunteers spent the day clearing the site, carefully peeling back the ivy and snipping away at its roots so as not to damage the centuries-old stonework.
The grotto was built in about 1761 as part of the landscape gardens of the Wanstead House estate, which later became Wanstead Park.
Although only one of the end walls is left, the remains of the grotto have become a popular and unusual feature of the park.
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