ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on recent research and restoration of several Elizabethan gardens by men; however, the analysis of gender roles in both architecture and garden design of the period may best be undertaken through analyzing the work of Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, known popularly as 'Bess of Hardwick'. In an interesting potential reversal of gender roles, Leicester's garden may have included traditional flowers such as marigolds, symbols of obedience and marriage. The most significant catalyst for modern interest in Elizabethan gardens may be the 2009 restoration of the 'Queen's Garden' at Kenilworth Castle. This one-acre plot to the south of the castle was created by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for the queen's visit to Kenilworth in 1575. The lavish entertainments at Kenilworth set a standard for entertaining the queen that few others could emulate. Using archaeology, landscape history and evidence from a contemporary description, English Heritage has created a seductive glimpse into the Elizabethan world.
