Historic Turf Labyrinths in England

Introduction

Turf labyrinths, or 'turf mazes' as they are popularly known in Britain, were once found throughout the British Isles, the old Germanic Empire (including the modern Poland and Czech Republic), Denmark (if the frequently encountered Trojaborg place-names are a reliable indicator) and southern Sweden. They are formed by cutting away the ground surface to leave turf ridges and shallow trenches, the convoluted pattern of which produces a single pathway, which leads to the centre of the design. Most were between 30 and 60 feet (9-18 metres) in diameter and were usually circular, although square and other polygonal examples are known. The designs employed are a curious mixture of ancient classical types, found throughout the region, and the mediaeval types, found principally in England.

Folklore and the scant contemporary records that survive suggest that they were once a popular feature of village fairs and other festivities. Many are found on village greens or commons, often near churches, but sometimes they are sited on hilltops and at other remote locations. Turf labyrinths, by nature of their living medium, are soon overgrown and lost if regular repair and re-cutting is not carried out. In many villages this was performed at regular intervals, often in connection with fairs or religious festivals. 50 or so examples are documented, and several hundred sites have been postulated from place-name evidence, but only eleven historic examples survive - eight in England and three in Germany.

Inherently difficult to date, as most are poorly documented, there is little evidence for them existing prior to the late mediaeval period, the 13th/14th centuries onwards. Indeed, while a number of examples can be confidently dated to the 16th and 17th centuries, a few are as recent as the 19th century. The current popularity of labyrinths has seen a number of modern examples and replicas constructed in parks and playgrounds, on hilltops and headlands. Some of these will certainly survive the test of time to join the historic examples and become the "ancient" turf labyrinths of the future, and a puzzle for future historians!

Historic Turf Labyrinths in England

The eight surviving historic turf labyrinths in England are always a pleasure to visit, although some are more difficult to find than others. Few are "signposted" and several are situated in remote locations, away from main roads or on hilltops, approachable only by footpaths. And therein lies the joy of tracking them down. They are to be found from Hampshire in the south to Yorkshire in the north, but almost without exception, they are beyond the reach of regular public transport and will require some planning to visit.

For the benefit of visitors to England, and even residents who wish to find them for themselves, the following information will hopefully prove useful to determine which of these splendid preserved turf labyrinths are possible to reach.

Clicking each of the named locations marked with a red square will take you to a new window with information on that labyrinth location. Close the window to return to this map.

Please note: if you have visited any of these labyrinths since the latest report given and find conditions have changed, please send me an e-mail with your findings and I will update the information.

Every summer we lead guided tours to these historic turf labyrinths. Visit our tours page for further details. We are also available as guides for individuals and groups wishing to visit some, or all, of these labyrinths as part of more varied tours.