GLASS CROWN FOR BOTHY GARDENS‘ historic Victorian greenhouse. Bothy Gardens’ Victorian glass greenhouse is reaching the end of its long-awaited restoration. It’s receiving its glass roof ahead of the site’s first open day on Saturday May 10th.
Restoration of the greenhouse started in January 2022. Back then dense grapevines covered it. They were eroding beams and glass panes and a carpet of overgrowth hid the floor.
The hints of its Victorian hey-day lay buried and broken. But Bothy Gardens’ owners Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler have worked hard to see the structure returned to its former glory with some modern additions.
‘The restoration has been a long process. Two fig trees had rooted themselves behind the greenhouse. Now cleared, that’s allowed light to reach the structure again. Wooden doors and beams were either removed completely due to decay or restored to preserve the historic nature of the greenhouse,’ Jules said.
We replaced or restored the original brick as trees had forced themselves through the structure. We also had to have the metal framework removed and restored. But we managed to keep and clean a third of the original floor tiling.’
Historic significance
The greenhouse is of historic significance because it’s among the earliest steam-heated greenhouses of its time. Many of the original cast-iron heating pipes and some of its original Victorian-tile flooring were intact when Jules and Mark discovered the greenhouse.
The final stage of restoration was replacing the glass roof. This needed removing for reasons of safety and modern insulation. Thicker and more reliable glass will be installed in the coming weeks. The new flooring, salvaged heating pipes, and glass roof will preserve the historic significance of the structure.
The greenhouse will become a creative studio for Turtlewings Ltd. That’s Jules Gilleland’s design practice. And it will also serve as a dedicated space for rare orchid propagation, as well as an area to preserve seasonal fruits and vegetables.
More information on the greenhouse restoration and the open day is available at www.bothygardens.com
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