National Trust sites’ history uncovered thanks to summer drought

• This summer's exceptionally hot and dry weather is revealing previously hidden historical structures at National Trust estates across the UK.
• Parch marks, where grass over buried walls dries quicker than surrounding areas, are exposing the outlines of ancient buildings.
• At Mottisfont in Hampshire, outlines of 13th to 16th-century monastery buildings, including a cloister, have become visible.
• Similarly, at Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, the dry conditions have revealed a large guest hall, indicating the abbey's historical capacity for visitors.
• Archaeologists note these rare glimpses offer new insights into the sites' oldest histories, with such occurrences becoming more frequent due to climate change.

IN FULL

Dry weather exposes archaeological secrets at National Trust monasteries