At the top of the mound, beneath the leaf litter and a thin layer of soil, the foundations of an emphemeral brick structure emerged. The remains had been heavily disturbed by tree roots, but clearly showed an apsidal or semi-circular footprint with an entrance on the western side. The bricks themselves appear to be 18th century in date, but traces of old mortar on some of them show that they had been part of another structure before being re-used on the mound at some later stage. With just a single course of bricks it seems unlikely that it could have supported any substantial structure, perhaps a simple timber frame offering some protection from the elements for seating within – the absence of any broken window glass suggests it was an open-sided structure. Would this have been grand enough for ‘Maria’s Seat’? Perhaps, but it remains a possibility that the structure served some other later purpose. It could even relate to the use of the area in the 20th century, with the nearby remains of the Second World War camp in East Park.
While we haven’t got a definitive answer (archaeology usually leaves us with more questions!), all of this will help us to interpret the site and help us understand how we can best present it as a real focal point in Walk Wood for future visitors. Huge thanks must go to the team of volunteers who displayed true gusto in the face of some rather unpleasant weather conditions! From their hard work we can begin to tell the story of Maria’s Seat, and its place in the designed landscape of Walk Wood.