Fiona Scott Media Consultanccy

Bothy Gardens’ iconic Victorian glass greenhouse is reaching the end of its long-awaited restoration, as it receives its glass roof ready ahead of the site’s first Wiltshire open day on Saturday, 10 May. 

Restoration of the greenhouse started January 2022, when it was covered in dense grapevines eroding beams and glass panes and the floor was hidden under a carpet of overgrowth.

The greenhouse is part of the walled garden which forms part of the Burderop estate at Chiseldon, near Swindon in Wiltshire. It was bought as a passion project by a couple who have spent years bringing the site back to life while maintaining its Georgian and Victorian character.

The hints of its Victorian past were 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,” Jules said. “Two fig trees were rooted behind the greenhouse were cleared which allowed light to reach the structure again.

“Wooden doors and beams were either removed completely due to decay or restored to preserve the historical nature of the greenhouse.

“Its original brick was replaced or restored because 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.” 

The greenhouse is of historical significance because its 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 the greenhouse was discovered. 

The final stage of restoration was replacing the glass roof, which had to be removed for 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 historical significance of the structure. 

The greenhouse will become a creative studio for Turtlewings Ltd, Jules Gilleland’s design practice and a dedicated space for rare orchid propagation, as well as an area to preserve seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

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