Palm House, Kew Gardens

Constructed by Richard Turner of Dublin. Designed by Decimus Burton and Richard Turner.

Major refurbishment was undertaken between 1955 and 1957 and between 1984 and 1988.

1848: 'THE PALM-HOUSE AT KEW-GARDENS.—The main ribs are formed of nine-inch deckbeam-iron, welded together to the length required, about 42 feet, and bent upon a template to the necessary curve. The ribs are 12 feet 6 inches apart, and foot into cast-iron sockets let into granite blocks upon a concrete foundation. The total length of the home is 362 feet 6 inches in the clear ; the centre portion being 137 feet 6 inches long, and 100 feet wide by 63 feet high in the clear, exclusive of the lantern (6 feet) ; the wings are each 112 feet 6 inches long and 50 feet wide, and 27 feet high from floor to bottom of lantern. The whole of the ribs are braced together, and strutted by wrought-iron tie-rods passing through cast iron tubes, which act as purlins. The columns are hollow, end conduct the rain-water from the cornice gutter of the upper roof into rain - water tanks, which are formed round the whole interior of the building, beneath the stone tables. An iron spiral staircase leads to the gallery, where pipes will be laid by which the tops of the trees may be watered, the supply being obtained from a reservoir in an ornamental tower at a short distance from the house, which also conceals the chimney-shaft. Ventilation is amply provided for by rolling sashes on the roofs, vertical sashes hung on centres at the level of the gallery and in the lanterns. Fresh air may also be admitted through the panels in the stone pedestal of the building. By simple machinery these ventilators, as well as the windows, will be opened and shut simultaneously. The whole of the roofs are glazed with sheet glass, 21 oz to the foot, slightly tinged with green, the tint being given by oxide of copper. This has been done to counteract the injurious effects on the vegetation arising from the use of white sheet-glass—an arrangement proposed by Mr. Hunt, of the Museum of Economic Geology, and practically carried out in this building for the first time. The floor of the house between the surrounding stone-paths is formed of perforated castings, about four feet square, supported on wrought-iron bearers and cast-iron uprights. The house will be warmed by hot water apparatus, calculated to maintain an internal temperature of 80 degrees when the external air is at 20 degrees (Fahrenheit). To effect this, 12 boilers (Messrs. Burbidge and Healy's patent), and 28,000 superficial feet of heating surface in pipes, box-tanks or troughs, will be laid under the whole of the perforated iron flooring and stone footpaths, and stone table round the house. Vapour is emitted when required by valves in the tanks. Distinct sets of heating pipes are supplied by each boiler, so that, according to the number of boilers in use, a higher or lower temperature may be obtained in any particular portion of the house, which may thus be variously climatized at pleasure. The building and heating apparatus have been constructed by Mr. Richard Turner, of Dublin; and the stonework and foundation by Messrs. Grissell and Peto. The total cost of the structure will be about 30,000l., exclusive of the shaft, tunnel, &c.—The Builder.'

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