Greenhouse design basics

The Victorians knew the need for ventilation, says Peter

- Peter Seabrook

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.