Greenhouse design basics
Amateur Gardening|April 18, 2020
The Victorians knew the need for ventilation, says Peter
Peter Seabrook
Greenhouse design basics

Large ‘English lights’ slide one on top of the other for daytime ventilation for wall-trained fruit trees in the Victorian greenhouses at Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University

LAST autumn, I visited the​ Brackenhurst Campus at Nottingham Trent University. The walled garden there has a lovely old range of glasshouses, the like of which I had not seen before. I believe it was the last job for Messengers of Lough borough in the early 1900s and was built to last.

The wrought-iron work, ventilation gearing, door handles and overall design are remarkable – they really knew how to furnish walled gardens in those days. Peaches, nectarines and other tree fruits, trained against the south-facing wall, are protected by large ‘English lights’ that can be slid one behind the other to open up the lean-to greenhouse and give ample daytime ventilation.

This story is from the April 18, 2020 edition of Amateur Gardening.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 18, 2020 edition of Amateur Gardening.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.