Tuesday, 6th March 2007
Following a complex £1.1m restoration, the Grade II* listed Camellia House at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham officially reopened on 5 March 2007. Lead by architects Purcell Miller Tritton the project team included engineers the Morton Partnership, contractor Dorothea Restoration and project managers Hornagold and Hills. The restoration of the Camellia House was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is part of the first phase of £9m of projects in the park. The building was in need of intensive work following numerous incidents of vandalism as well as the wear and tear of nearly two hundred years of British weather.
Situated in a walled garden within WollatonPark, the 350 sq m Camellia House is a rare early example of a Georgian glass house. It was built in 1823 for the Willoughby family who owned and lived at Wollaton Hall until the 1920s when they passed the estate to Nottingham City Council. Specially built to house Camellias brought back by the family from , it includes a bespoke-designed heating system (no longer in use) as it was thought the flowers needed a warm climate to survive. In fact Camellias are remarkably hardy and the 50-year old plants have survived the rebuilding process which entailed the complete dismantling of the glass house.
Matthew Hollingsworth, architect, Purcell Miller Tritton, commented, “When we examined the original structure it became apparent that it was too weak to support any additional stress, such as snow-loading, or to withstand vandalism. To overcome this we designed a single skin ETFE plastic foil to act as a protective roof which should withstand extreme weather, and worse, for some years. The finished Camellia House is a true credit to the team involved.”
Ron Inglis, Service Manager, Museums and Galleries, Nottingham City Council, “We are thrilled with the result. Wollaton Hall and Park are a highly valued resource to residents and visitors to Nottingham. What the team have achieved will help preserve an important part of the city’s heritage which will be enjoyed for years to come.”
