Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 121
Scottish heritage body
awards £500,000 to restore
the historic Palm Houses
The ongoing restoration of the two A-listed Palm Houses at the heart of the Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) will shortly receive a much-needed boost, thanks to
a £500,000 grant from Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The grant will help fund
the renovation of the fabric and structure of the buildings, including stonework, glazing
and iron work.
The two Palm Houses are outstanding examples of late
Georgian and Victorian engineering, part of Scotland’s
built heritage and of unique architectural significance. The
octagonal Tropical Palm House, constructed in 1834, is
the oldest glasshouse at the Inverleith site, while the iconic
Temperate Palm House, reputed to be the tallest stone-built
glasshouse in Europe, opened in 1858.
Already, the results of these complex conservation efforts
are starting to be realised. Rusted and corroding ironwork is
restored and freshly painted, enormous yet intricately carved
sandstone blocks have replaced decaying cornices, while new,
more efficient glass panels are waiting, ready to be installed.
On completion of this ambitious project, these magnificent
buildings will be restored to their former glory, once again
providing a haven for the Garden’s precious Living Collection
of plants.
Now almost 200 years old, the Palm Houses are showing
their age, with the fabric of the buildings badly eroded and
in desperate need of repair. A comprehensive programme
to renovate the historic infrastructure began in 2021 with
the lift and careful removal for safekeeping of around 800
plants, before restoration work under contractor Balfour
Beatty could begin in 2022.
Dr Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment
Scotland (HES) said: “The Palm Houses at the Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) are a particularly grand
example of Victorian botanic garden buildings, specifically
designed for the oldest botanic garden in Scotland. It’s been
a pleasure to work with RBGE to offer technical advice on
the conservation of these remarkable structures, as well as
awarding HES grant funding of £500,000.
The grant will support the repair, replacement and
restoration of crumbling sandstone, glass and structural
ironwork – including narrow spiral staircases, walkways and
the elegant 6.7-metre-high arched windows on the Victorian
Palm House.
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Below, Victorian Temperate Palm House
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