Chiswick House conservatory added to Historic England ‘at risk’ register

Image: The Conservatory at Chiswick House and Gardens. Credit: Historic England

Conservatory needs millions of pounds of specialist restoration work

The conservatory at Chiswick House has been added to the list of sites considered ‘at risk’ by Historic England.

The 300 foot, Grade 1 listed conservatory was designed by the architect Samuel Ware, who also built the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly.

It is one of the main attractions at Chiswick House Gardens, but has fallen into disrepair and is now closed to the public.

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Built originally in 1813 to house exotic fruits and camellias, the conservatory is home to Chiswick House’s unique collection of heritage camellias, which used to be on show to the public every spring until the building was considered unsafe.

Image: Camellias at Chiswick House conservatory

Hounslow Council and Chiswick House and Gardens Trust welcomes the addition

Hounslow Council and Chiswick House and Gardens Trust have both welcomed the addition of the conservatory Historic England’s register.

The building, which is owned by Hounslow Council and operated by the Trust, needs major conservation work by specialist experts which will cost millions of pounds. This is not the first time the conservatory has come under threat.

It was wrecked by a bomb during the Second World War and rebuilt. The Council has funded annual repairs since 2020, but its unique design and age mean that ongoing repairs can no longer keep pace with the effects of weathering, such as increased rainfall and higher temperatures.

The new Heritage at Risk status enables the Council and the Trust to approach a wider range of funding sources and partners to help deliver a sustainable solution for the conservatory’s future.

Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces at Hounslow Council, said: “It’s remarkable, and testament to the dedication generations have shown to protect this precious building, that it’s still standing at almost 100 years old, having seen major repairs in the 1950s, 90s and in 2008.

“We hope that the conservatory’s new status on the At Risk Register will help us and Chiswick House and Gardens Trust secure the necessary grant funding to return the conservatory to its former glory.”

Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, said: “The glasshouse is an iconic and beautiful garden building that links our formal and productive gardens and provides a stunning focal point for visitors”.

The Gardens have around a million visitors a year. Chris Laine, Landscape Architect at Historic England, said: “The Heritage at Risk Register draws attention to historic places in need and helps bring partners together to explore opportunities for repair and renewal.

“The conservatory is not an easy structure to maintain and its condition reflects issues inherent in the unique design and materials.

We’re working closely with Hounslow Council and Chiswick House and Gardens Trust to find a way forward to secure the whole building’s future, building on the excellent work done to transform the Victorian working areas into artists’ studios.”

READ ALSO: New artists studios opened at Chiswick House Gardens

Images: New artists studios

Chiswick House conservatory joins more than 600 London sites on the list

Chiswick House conservatory joins 603 other sites in London considered to be at risk.

Other sites newly added include the Hill Garden Pergola at Hampstead Heath and the Moated Manor of Edward III in Rotherhithe.

Among a number of sites which have been rescued by Historic England this year is the grade II listed Leaning Woman statue in Hammersmith.