Hedge maze
A Hedge Maze is an outdoor garden maze or labyrinth in which the "walls" or dividers between passages are made of vertical hedges.
History
Hedge mazes evolved from the knot gardens of Renaissance Europe, and were first constructed during the mid-16th century.[1] These early mazes were constructed from evergreen herbs, but, over time, dwarf box became a more popular option due to its robustness. Italian architects had been sketching conceptual garden labyrinths as early as 1460, and hundreds of mazes were constructed in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries.[2]
Initially, the hedge maze was not intended to confuse, but to provide a unicursal walking path. Puzzle-like hedge mazes featuring dead ends and tall hedges arrived in England during the reign of King William III of England. The oldest surviving puzzle hedge maze, at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, England, was built for King William in the late 17th century. Its distinctive trapezoidal shape is due to pre-existing paths running alongside the maze.
In modern times, hedge mazes have increased in complexity. A hedge maze at Longleat House in Whiltshire, England, designed in 1978, features a three-dimensional maze that uses bridges and a grid-less layout to confuse visitors.
Notable hedge mazes
- Ashcombe Maze, Shoreham, Victoria, Australia
- Avenel Maze, Avenel, Victoria, Australia
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England, has a maze [1], though only part is constructed from hedges.
- Blenheim Palace, England
- Castlewellan, Northern Ireland, world's largest permanent hedge maze [2]
- Chatsworth House, England
- Disneyland Paris has a hedgemaze (although the hedges are fake) in Alice's Curious Labyrinth, an Alice in Wonderland themed area.
- Enchanted Mazes, Arthurs Seat, Victoria, Australia
- Healesville Maze Healesville, Victoria, Australia
- Hampton Court Maze, England
- Kaeser Memorial Maze, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Kimnyoung Maze, Jeju Island, South Korea
- Leeds Castle, England
- Longleat, England
- Mintaro Maze, Mintaro, South Australia
- Saffron Walden, Essex, England
- Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
- Tatton Park, England
- Villa Vizcaya, Miami, FL
- Wandiligong Maze, Wandiligong, Victoria, Australia
See also
References
Links
- maze design site http://www.mazemaker.com
- Ashcombe Maze http://www.ashcombemaze.com.au/
- Avenel Maze http://www.avenelmaze.com.au/
- Healesville Maze http://www.hedgend.com.au/