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Labyrinthos Photo Library

English Turf Labyrinths

Once common throughout the British Isles and Germany, turf labyrinths (commonly called “turf mazes”) were popular feature of village fairs and other festivities, but only a handful of historic examples survive. Many were situated on village greens or commons, sometimes near churches, but other times on hilltops or in remote locations. Often difficult to date, the eight surviving historic turf labyrinths in England probably range from the 16th to the 19th centuries. In recent years they have been joined by a number of modern examples and replicas in parks and playgrounds, on hilltops and headlands.


Julian's Bower, Alkborough, Lincolnshire	Alkborough, 16th century?	Mizmaze, St. Catherine's Hill, Winchester, Hampshire

The Maze, Saffron Walden, Essex cut 1699	Mizmaze, Breamore, Hampshire late 16th century?	St. Catherine's Hill, Winchester mid-17th century

Saffron Walden Common, Essex	Mizmaze, Breamore, Hampshire	Troy-Town, Somerton, Oxfordshire late 16th century?

The Old Maze, Wing, Rutland 17th century?	The Old Maze, Wing, Rutland	Troy-Town, Somerton, Oxfordshire

The Maze, Hilton, Cambridgeshire, cut 1660	Hilton, Cambridgeshire	City of Troy, Dalby, North Yorkshire, mid-19th century

Seaton, Devon, 2005	Hilton, Cambridgeshire	City of Troy, Dalby, North Yorkshire

Seaton, Devon	Solsbury Hill, Batheaston, Somerset, early 1990s	Comberton Meridian School, Cambridgeshire, 2007
We also have a downloadable PDF guide to the historic turf labyrinths in England, with information about each labyrinth location and visiting information in the Labyrinthos Archive section of this website. All of the images on this page (and many more besides) are available in high resolution digital formats for licensed reproduction. For details of reproduction fees and permission procedures, send us an e-mail with details of your planned usage and format requirements.