Back sheds
The sheds behind the glasshouse were the powerhouse and administrative centre of the kitchen garden. Here, hidden from view, the gardeners carried out their varied and essential jobs under the watchful eye of the Head Gardener, William Brough. Deliveries arrived, produce was sent out, tools were cleaned, sharpened and repaired, tender plants were nurtured and precious seeds stored in rooms warmed from the heat of the glasshouse boilers.
Tending the glasshouse
The glasshouse’s high roof allowed for the cultivation of palms and other large exotic specimens, newly arrived in the country via the exploits of plant hunters. The fruits and plants housed in the glasshouse were rare and newly discovered; brought to this country by plant hunters travelling the world.
Keeping these fragile plants alive required careful tending and clever technology. Pipes ran from a boiler under the floor, heating the glasshouse to carefully controlled levels. This environment was perfect for growing exotic plants and delicate fruits.
Keeping the boiler fed day and night was the job of the garden boys, some of whome were as young as nine years old. To make sure they were always close by these boys slept in the backsheds, their few possessions kept close to their small beds.
See how we brought the glasshouse back to its former glory: