Building record 1010/0/42 - Walled Garden, Althorp

A walled garden is first depicted in 1721 and the gardener's house and structures, probably glasshouses for the cultivation of exotic fruits such as pineapples, are shown in the 1778 Estate Map. Archaeological excavation of one of the glasshouses was undertaken by Archaeology Wales in 2023 and demonstrated that it had expanded over time.

{1} Archaeology Wales undertook excavation of on the remains of a glasshouse located within the Walled Garden of the Althorp Estate. The walled garden is at least as early as 1721 when it was depicted in an illustration by Tillemans. In the 1778 Estate Map, the walled garden appears to have the same plan as present and the map depicts the gardener's house (built in the mid-18th century) and buildings located centrally within the garden. These are thought to be the earliest elements of the glasshouses which were probably constructed for the cultivation of exotic fruit such as pineapples. Documents indicate that repairs to a hothouse were undertaken in 1783 and a fig house was constructed in 1791. By the mid 19th century, the range of buildings had expanded considerably, which was supported by the archaeological evidence indicating that there were three separate buildings of different phases. The earliest element may have been a Peach House. The remains of three pineapple pits were found. The remains of two boiler rooms were identified and were likely to be later insertions; they were for hot water boilers and would have been constructed after the invention of the hot water boiler in the early 1800s. They would have replaced earlier hot air heating systems.
The glasshouse likely went out of use after the First World War although it was still standing in the 1970s.

<1> Sian Thomas, 2024, Archaeological Excavation: The Glasshouse within the Walled Garden, Althorp (Report). SNN116840.

Record last edited

Oct 1 2026 2:41PM