A MULTI-MILLION pound makeover of an historic New Forest hotel has revealed the lost gardens of Hinton.

There is a long way to go before the East Close Hotel is back to its former glory, but the lessees - led by award-winning restaurateur Andy Price of Bournemouth's West Beach, Print Room and Aruba - are aiming to open in the spring.

More than £2 million is expected to be spent on completely refurbishing the 15-bedroom hotel, which started life in 1720 as a farmhouse with a grand extension built on in 1768.

The main part of the house will house a fine dining restaurant in the oak panelled drawing room where guests can take afternoon tea overlooking the croquet lawns.

The former farm buildings, later the Saddle Bar, will become a family-friendly gastro pub.

But it is outside where the surprises lay when project manager Kath Giffin and partner and site manager Paul Turner started exploring.

They knew about the walled semi-circular garden with its gardeners' bothy.

But they were amazed to find a second walled garden hidden behind trees. The interior walls show where lean-to greenhouses once stood full of exotic fruits.

In the shady south-western corner there are the remains of a potting shed and in the south-eastern, the base of the well-house.

Outside there is a dry-bricked well, only discovered when undergrowth was cleared. There is still water in the bottom and it is home to a huge cellar spider.

Fruit-bearing fig trees line the outer southern wall to get the best of the sun.

A circular area inside the garden is thought to have been a former cock-fighting pit utilised in later times as a water feature.

Kath has plans for this walled garden to be planted as a traditional herbal knot garden.

"It's a real passion for me. It's an amazing space. It's exciting when we're finding something else but depressing when you think of all the work needed."

The semi-circular garden will, with planning permission, house a wedding folly and marquee, and the neighbouring barn provide a servery.

And Kath has plans for that well. "It would be perfect for wedding wishes," she said.