Glass Houses

Glasshouses were built at Tatton from around the mid 1700’s.  They were used for growing pineapples along with many other fruit including figs, apricots, grapes, peaches and nectarines.

The latest glasshouse restoration is that of the Pinery Vinery. This restored glasshouse is possibly the only genuine, rebuilt example of a Pinery Vinery in existence in Britain. It was originally designed by Samuel Wyatt during the heyday of the pineapple as a status symbol, when individual fruits were sold for the equivalent of £5,000 today.

Glasshouses not only produced fruit for the table but also pot plants and cut flowers for the main house.  The addition of orchid and general pot plant growing glasshouses made this possible.

In its heyday, Tatton had as many as 20 orchid houses. One of those has now been restored and houses an extensive collection of orchids. It is hoped that in the future it will be able to replicate a small collection of some of the orchids introduced originally by James Bateman of Biddulph Grange, who was a close friend of the family. 

The family also enjoyed taking guests around the gardens and glasshouses - to this end the conservatory, fernery and show house were built.

The Conservatory has recently undergone restoration work to restore it to its original plan and is now open to the public. The stunning Fernery can be enjoyed with its extensive collection of ferns and tree ferns from New Zealand and Australia collected by one of the family, Captain Charles Randle Egerton.  The Fernery was designed in the late 1850s by Joseph Paxton - famous for building Crystal Palace. 

The adjoining show-house was designed as an area to ‘show off’ the latest flowering plant material in season at the time. This has continuously changing displays which can be enjoyed from spring to autumn.