Amazing…

Ann Hills assesses the 'Year of the Maze'

Hampton Court maze – the world's most famous hedge maze – is 300 years old. In celebration of this anniversary, 1991 has been declared 'The Year of the Maze.' It has been preceded by the publication of a wide-ranging book – The Art of the Maze by Adrian Fisher, with photographs by Georg Gerster (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 18 pounds).

During the year, there will be numerous events to continue the centuries-old heritage of English mazes: the year's president, the Duke of Marlborough, will officially open his new hedge maze at Blenheim Palace, continuing the tradition. A conference called 'Labyrinth '91' at Saffron Walden on July 13th will coincide with the re-opening of the restored Bridge End Gardens hedge maze, originally planted in 1840. It will also delve into the 4,000 year-old history of mazes, touching on newly-discovered stone labyrinths in Sweden.

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