Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Jan. 26, 1861
  • Page 6
  • THE TEMPERATE HOUSE, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW.
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Jan. 26, 1861: Page 6

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Jan. 26, 1861
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article THE TEMPERATE HOUSE, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 6

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

century , with a private individual , Sir Henry Capcl , whoso love of botany led him not only to cultivate the choicest plants of his own country , but to import largely from abroad . At the death of his widow , Kew Houso and grounds wore leased in 1730 to Frederick Prince of Wales , and subsequently purchased by his son , George III .

Sir W . Chambers was employed by Prince Frederick to ornament the grounds by the erection of various architectural buddings , some of which yet remain . Considerable additions wero made to the grounds during the latter part of tho reign of George III ., under Mr . Alton , who published a catalogue of the plants then in cultivation , under the title of Horlus Kewensis .

In the early part of the reign of her present Majesty , a commission was appointed to inquire into the condition of the gardens , which resulted in the management being transferred to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests , who appointed the present director , Sir W . J . Hooker . In 1841 , the Botanic Gardens ivere transferred by the Royal Family to the public . They now contain

sevenfcyfive acres , and are separated , by a wire fence , from a larger district known as the Pleasure Grounds , containing 325 acres . The xihole . extent , therefore , enjoyed by the public , is not less than 400 acres . In 18-14 , Mi-. Decimus Burton ivas commissioned to design the Great Palm-house ; and Mr . Nesfield , the well-known landscape gardenerin conjunction with himprepared a

, , plan for bringing into form these hitherto irregular and partially neglected grounds , ivhich had grown by vaidous additions , and were " without form , and void . " Vistas and paths were laid down , whose lines connected existing buildings , and determined the position of future erections . There are about 51 miles of paths in the gardens and

adjacent pleasure grounds , ancl a lake , 4 J acres in extent , is in course of formation , which will communicate with the Thames . The public entrance on Kew-greon , with its wrought-iron gates , was designed and arranged by Mr . D . Burton , in 1845 . The increasing interest felt by the public in these gardens is shown by the yearly returns of the numbers

admitted , which have gradually increased from 9 , 174 , in 1841 , to 405 , 376 in 1858 . But the most interesting particulars remain to be given . We find by the annual reports of the directors that " the ehief objects of tho GoA'ernment in establishing and supporting the gardens are" 1 . As a place for the healthful recreation of the public ,

gratifying the national love of gardening , and affording popular information as to the appearance , names , uses , and native countries , & c , of an extensive scries of useful and ornamental plants , from all parts of the Avorld , together Avith their products , Avhether as food , drugs , dyes , timbers , textiles , or cabinet Avork . " 2 . By encouraging horticulture and scientific botany ; promoting tho useful arts Avhich depend on A'egetable produce ; supplying information to botanists , and aiding their

publications ; and imparting a knoAvledge of plants to travellers , merchants , and manufacturers ; also by training plant collectors and gardeners for home , colonial , and foreign service . "The peculiarities of the climate of England render it singularly favourable for the growth of trees and shrubs of temperate regions , from almost all parts of the globe .

"In pursuance of this object , an arboretum has been formed in a favourable situation , and already contains a classified collection of about 3 , 500 kinds of hardy trees and shrubs ( including marked varieties ) . " Such a collection could not fail to answer the cui bono ? so often propounded , by shoAving the uses and applications of plants . Itwascommenced b y the transference to this

building of a considerable series of articles of this nature , which the director had been forming during the previous forty years in connection with his own private herbarium . Thanks to the contribution of friends , in a few years' time he ten apartments ( two of them of considerable dimensions ) were full . An additional structure of much more capacious accommodation was then required . This was commenced in 1835 , finished early in 1856 , and was to be seen but little vacant in 1858 . "

To render Kew Gardens a complete botanical establishment , a herbarium and library ( without which the plants could not bo correctly named ) , were long a desideratum . True , the very extensive library and herbarium belonging to the director were accommodated in a suitable building , the property of the Crown ; and , by an arrangement between the Board of Works and himselfthey were thrown

, open , ^ withjiho needful attendance , to all mon of science ; and , in 1855 , two collections of dried plants { herbaria ) wore added as gifts . They now form that portion of this depa-rtment which belongs to the Crown . These , combined with the director ' s own ( under the same roof , but in different apartments ) , unquestionably constitute the most extensive and practically useful herbarium and library ei'er formed .

They cannot fail to be , and have , indeed , already proved , of inestimable service to all Avho are engaged in pursuits connected Avith botany and horticulture . Men of science are continually taking up their residence at Kew , in order to avail themselves of these collections while preparing their several works . Au extensive and valuable collection of oriinal botanical

g prints and drawings ( 30 , 000 drawings and numerous engravings ) , mostly presented by Sir W . J . Hooker , and many of them the ivorks of his son , Dr . Hooker , during his extensive voyages and travels , are systematically arranged in seventy-five portfolios , and have proved of great service to persons studying the different families of plants . In 1853 a building was erected opposite to the

Palmhouse , for the reception of the valuable collection of economic botany . About this time various greenhouses were erected for classified plants . In the gardens , a highly interesting and valuable collection of living plants had been suffering for years from want of a proper building for their reception . The director ,

in his annual reports , had long been most urgent in his appeals for such a building ; and , iu his report of 1856 , he said : — " Above I have alluded to the hope of a new conservatory being speedily erected for the accommodation of those noble Chilian , Mexican , Australian , and Norfolk Island conifers , and the fine trees and large shrubs of temperate climates

^ for the possession of which the Royal Gardens of Kew have long been celebrated , but of ivhich I must now speak almost in the past tense . Some of them have suffered beyond recovery within the last few years ; others may yet be restored by the needful amount of space , light , and tem ^ - perature being afforded . " Many have completely overgrown the houses hitherto

devoted to them ; and the best of them have been decapitated to keep them under the roof of the old orangery which they now chiefly occupy . " " There are two nurseries , one esjiecially for planting the Kew grounds , the other for supplying the metropolitan parks with ornamental trees and shrubs . " In 1847 an old building , formerly connected with the kitchen-garden , was converted into a museum . In the

words ofthe director , " Ifc promised to afford , for a time , the needful accommodation for a display of the various products of the vegetable kingdom ; especially such as are in demand by the merchant and manufacturer , the timberdealer , the cabinet-maker , the druggist , & c . ; and to form , in short , the nucleus of a museum of economic as well as structural botany , which should contain all that was

ineresting or curious in vegetable organisation , and that ould not be preserved nor generally exhibited in the living state . He afterwards again urged the desirability of its erection . In 1859 , the Government granted the sum of £ 10 , 000 towards building this long-desiderated conservatory ; and Mr . Decimus Burton was directed to prepare the designs .

Tenders wero obtained from several eminent builders : the lowest , that of Messrs . W . Cubitt and Co ., was accepted ; and , under it , that firm are now proceeding with the works . The site is on the west side of the great avenue leading to the pagoda . The building will stand on an earthen terrace about 4 ft . high , approached by wide flights of steps at the sides and ends , and will consist of a centre connected with two wings by two smaller conservatories , octagonal on plan .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1861-01-26, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 9 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_26011861/page/6/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
"THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE" AND "THE VOICE OF MASONRY." Article 1
STRAY THOUGHTS ON THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE FINE ARTS. Article 2
ANCIENT AND MODERN MASONRY. Article 3
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Article 4
THE TEMPERATE HOUSE, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. Article 5
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 7
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 8
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 9
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 10
METROPOLITAN. Article 10
PROVINCIAL. Article 13
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 17
ROYAL ARCH. Article 17
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 18
IRELAND. Article 18
Poetry. Article 18
THE LUPRACAUN, OR FAIRY SHOEMAKER. Article 18
Obituary. Article 19
THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

2 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

2 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

2 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

3 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

2 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

2 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

3 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

3 Articles
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

3 Articles
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

3 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

5 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

3 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

3 Articles
Page 6

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Temperate House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

century , with a private individual , Sir Henry Capcl , whoso love of botany led him not only to cultivate the choicest plants of his own country , but to import largely from abroad . At the death of his widow , Kew Houso and grounds wore leased in 1730 to Frederick Prince of Wales , and subsequently purchased by his son , George III .

Sir W . Chambers was employed by Prince Frederick to ornament the grounds by the erection of various architectural buddings , some of which yet remain . Considerable additions wero made to the grounds during the latter part of tho reign of George III ., under Mr . Alton , who published a catalogue of the plants then in cultivation , under the title of Horlus Kewensis .

In the early part of the reign of her present Majesty , a commission was appointed to inquire into the condition of the gardens , which resulted in the management being transferred to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests , who appointed the present director , Sir W . J . Hooker . In 1841 , the Botanic Gardens ivere transferred by the Royal Family to the public . They now contain

sevenfcyfive acres , and are separated , by a wire fence , from a larger district known as the Pleasure Grounds , containing 325 acres . The xihole . extent , therefore , enjoyed by the public , is not less than 400 acres . In 18-14 , Mi-. Decimus Burton ivas commissioned to design the Great Palm-house ; and Mr . Nesfield , the well-known landscape gardenerin conjunction with himprepared a

, , plan for bringing into form these hitherto irregular and partially neglected grounds , ivhich had grown by vaidous additions , and were " without form , and void . " Vistas and paths were laid down , whose lines connected existing buildings , and determined the position of future erections . There are about 51 miles of paths in the gardens and

adjacent pleasure grounds , ancl a lake , 4 J acres in extent , is in course of formation , which will communicate with the Thames . The public entrance on Kew-greon , with its wrought-iron gates , was designed and arranged by Mr . D . Burton , in 1845 . The increasing interest felt by the public in these gardens is shown by the yearly returns of the numbers

admitted , which have gradually increased from 9 , 174 , in 1841 , to 405 , 376 in 1858 . But the most interesting particulars remain to be given . We find by the annual reports of the directors that " the ehief objects of tho GoA'ernment in establishing and supporting the gardens are" 1 . As a place for the healthful recreation of the public ,

gratifying the national love of gardening , and affording popular information as to the appearance , names , uses , and native countries , & c , of an extensive scries of useful and ornamental plants , from all parts of the Avorld , together Avith their products , Avhether as food , drugs , dyes , timbers , textiles , or cabinet Avork . " 2 . By encouraging horticulture and scientific botany ; promoting tho useful arts Avhich depend on A'egetable produce ; supplying information to botanists , and aiding their

publications ; and imparting a knoAvledge of plants to travellers , merchants , and manufacturers ; also by training plant collectors and gardeners for home , colonial , and foreign service . "The peculiarities of the climate of England render it singularly favourable for the growth of trees and shrubs of temperate regions , from almost all parts of the globe .

"In pursuance of this object , an arboretum has been formed in a favourable situation , and already contains a classified collection of about 3 , 500 kinds of hardy trees and shrubs ( including marked varieties ) . " Such a collection could not fail to answer the cui bono ? so often propounded , by shoAving the uses and applications of plants . Itwascommenced b y the transference to this

building of a considerable series of articles of this nature , which the director had been forming during the previous forty years in connection with his own private herbarium . Thanks to the contribution of friends , in a few years' time he ten apartments ( two of them of considerable dimensions ) were full . An additional structure of much more capacious accommodation was then required . This was commenced in 1835 , finished early in 1856 , and was to be seen but little vacant in 1858 . "

To render Kew Gardens a complete botanical establishment , a herbarium and library ( without which the plants could not bo correctly named ) , were long a desideratum . True , the very extensive library and herbarium belonging to the director were accommodated in a suitable building , the property of the Crown ; and , by an arrangement between the Board of Works and himselfthey were thrown

, open , ^ withjiho needful attendance , to all mon of science ; and , in 1855 , two collections of dried plants { herbaria ) wore added as gifts . They now form that portion of this depa-rtment which belongs to the Crown . These , combined with the director ' s own ( under the same roof , but in different apartments ) , unquestionably constitute the most extensive and practically useful herbarium and library ei'er formed .

They cannot fail to be , and have , indeed , already proved , of inestimable service to all Avho are engaged in pursuits connected Avith botany and horticulture . Men of science are continually taking up their residence at Kew , in order to avail themselves of these collections while preparing their several works . Au extensive and valuable collection of oriinal botanical

g prints and drawings ( 30 , 000 drawings and numerous engravings ) , mostly presented by Sir W . J . Hooker , and many of them the ivorks of his son , Dr . Hooker , during his extensive voyages and travels , are systematically arranged in seventy-five portfolios , and have proved of great service to persons studying the different families of plants . In 1853 a building was erected opposite to the

Palmhouse , for the reception of the valuable collection of economic botany . About this time various greenhouses were erected for classified plants . In the gardens , a highly interesting and valuable collection of living plants had been suffering for years from want of a proper building for their reception . The director ,

in his annual reports , had long been most urgent in his appeals for such a building ; and , iu his report of 1856 , he said : — " Above I have alluded to the hope of a new conservatory being speedily erected for the accommodation of those noble Chilian , Mexican , Australian , and Norfolk Island conifers , and the fine trees and large shrubs of temperate climates

^ for the possession of which the Royal Gardens of Kew have long been celebrated , but of ivhich I must now speak almost in the past tense . Some of them have suffered beyond recovery within the last few years ; others may yet be restored by the needful amount of space , light , and tem ^ - perature being afforded . " Many have completely overgrown the houses hitherto

devoted to them ; and the best of them have been decapitated to keep them under the roof of the old orangery which they now chiefly occupy . " " There are two nurseries , one esjiecially for planting the Kew grounds , the other for supplying the metropolitan parks with ornamental trees and shrubs . " In 1847 an old building , formerly connected with the kitchen-garden , was converted into a museum . In the

words ofthe director , " Ifc promised to afford , for a time , the needful accommodation for a display of the various products of the vegetable kingdom ; especially such as are in demand by the merchant and manufacturer , the timberdealer , the cabinet-maker , the druggist , & c . ; and to form , in short , the nucleus of a museum of economic as well as structural botany , which should contain all that was

ineresting or curious in vegetable organisation , and that ould not be preserved nor generally exhibited in the living state . He afterwards again urged the desirability of its erection . In 1859 , the Government granted the sum of £ 10 , 000 towards building this long-desiderated conservatory ; and Mr . Decimus Burton was directed to prepare the designs .

Tenders wero obtained from several eminent builders : the lowest , that of Messrs . W . Cubitt and Co ., was accepted ; and , under it , that firm are now proceeding with the works . The site is on the west side of the great avenue leading to the pagoda . The building will stand on an earthen terrace about 4 ft . high , approached by wide flights of steps at the sides and ends , and will consist of a centre connected with two wings by two smaller conservatories , octagonal on plan .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 5
  • You're on page6
  • 7
  • 20
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy