There is a story put about that the greenhouse that is being restored at
Greenway (Agatha Christie's house) was built by Spanish prisoners in the
days of the Armada.
Ray and I think this very unlikely but as we don't know the date of the
first greenhouses, we can't be sure. Personally, I think it's more likely
to prisoners of war from either the Peninsula war or the Napoleonic war
because Dartmoor prison was housed to take the latter.
Anyone any idea of the date of the first greenhouse in this country?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 10:26:35 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

There is a story put about that the greenhouse that is being restored at
Greenway (Agatha Christie's house) was built by Spanish prisoners in the
days of the Armada.
Ray and I think this very unlikely but as we don't know the date of the
first greenhouses, we can't be sure. Personally, I think it's more likely
to prisoners of war from either the Peninsula war or the Napoleonic war
because Dartmoor prison was housed to take the latter.
Anyone any idea of the date of the first greenhouse in this country?

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...-%20trends.htm

Frogleg12/2/04 11:09

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 10:26:35 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

There is a story put about that the greenhouse that is being restored at
Greenway (Agatha Christie's house) was built by Spanish prisoners in the
days of the Armada.
Ray and I think this very unlikely but as we don't know the date of the
first greenhouses, we can't be sure. Personally, I think it's more likely
to prisoners of war from either the Peninsula war or the Napoleonic war
because Dartmoor prison was housed to take the latter.
Anyone any idea of the date of the first greenhouse in this country?

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...enhouse%20hist
ory%20-%20trends.htm


That's very interesting and informative, too. It looks as if that story
could well be true then. Thanks very much indeed.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

Might be Oxford University Botanical Gardens c.1621. I think this is the
oldest, and was constructed because of an expected severe winter. This does
suggest, however, that perhaps the properties of greenhouses were already
well known.

Greenway House was originally an Elizabethan structure (16th C) but I do no
think the greenhouse would have been built before the house was
reconstructered during the Georgian era.


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
There is a story put about that the greenhouse that is being restored at
Greenway (Agatha Christie's house) was built by Spanish prisoners in the
days of the Armada.
Ray and I think this very unlikely but as we don't know the date of the
first greenhouses, we can't be sure. Personally, I think it's more likely
to prisoners of war from either the Peninsula war or the Napoleonic war
because Dartmoor prison was housed to take the latter.
Anyone any idea of the date of the first greenhouse in this country?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Simon Matterface12/2/04 11:24


"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
There is a story put about that the greenhouse that is being restored at
Greenway (Agatha Christie's house) was built by Spanish prisoners in the
days of the Armada.
Ray and I think this very unlikely but as we don't know the date of the
first greenhouses, we can't be sure. Personally, I think it's more likely
to prisoners of war from either the Peninsula war or the Napoleonic war
because Dartmoor prison was housed to take the latter.
Anyone any idea of the date of the first greenhouse in this country?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)



(top posting corrected for logical progression! ;- )

But if there was an earlier house on the site, that might account for the
idea of an early greenhouse, I suppose. It's such a favoured position that
it wouldn't surprise me if other houses had been on that site before.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:37 +0000 (UTC), Simon Matterface wrote:

Might be Oxford University Botanical Gardens c.1621. I think this is the
oldest, and was constructed because of an expected severe winter. This does
suggest, however, that perhaps the properties of greenhouses were already
well known.

The Romans had glazed structures of a kind -- whether
greenhouses, orangeries, or coldframes, I don't remember.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
[change "atlantic" to "pacific" and
"invalid" to "net" to reply by email]

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:37 +0000 (UTC), Simon Matterface wrote:

Might be Oxford University Botanical Gardens c.1621. I think this is the
oldest, and was constructed because of an expected severe winter. This does
suggest, however, that perhaps the properties of greenhouses were already
well known.

The Romans had glazed structures of a kind -- whether
greenhouses, orangeries, or coldframes, I don't remember.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
[change "atlantic" to "pacific" and
"invalid" to "net" to reply by email]

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:37 +0000 (UTC), Simon Matterface wrote:

Might be Oxford University Botanical Gardens c.1621. I think this is the
oldest, and was constructed because of an expected severe winter. This does
suggest, however, that perhaps the properties of greenhouses were already
well known.

The Romans had glazed structures of a kind -- whether
greenhouses, orangeries, or coldframes, I don't remember.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
[change "atlantic" to "pacific" and
"invalid" to "net" to reply by email]

The message
from Sacha contains these words:

(top posting corrected for logical progression! ;- )

Oh, so that's why I missed the message - I thought it was a slip of the
posting finger and deleted it.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from Sacha contains these words:

(top posting corrected for logical progression! ;- )

Oh, so that's why I missed the message - I thought it was a slip of the
posting finger and deleted it.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:36 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...enhouse%20hist
ory%20-%20trends.htm


That's very interesting and informative, too. It looks as if that story
could well be true then. Thanks very much indeed.

It was interesting to find that greenhouse arrangements well pre-date
glass. Gardeners are a determined lot. I can well imagine a neighbor
of the person who first made glass saying, "Say, I'll bet I can start
my peas early with this!" never mind the prospect of replacing oiled
sheepskin in his windows.

I believe 'the Spanish Prisoner' is a classic confidence scam,
although not usually associated with 1588.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:36 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...enhouse%20hist
ory%20-%20trends.htm


That's very interesting and informative, too. It looks as if that story
could well be true then. Thanks very much indeed.

It was interesting to find that greenhouse arrangements well pre-date
glass. Gardeners are a determined lot. I can well imagine a neighbor
of the person who first made glass saying, "Say, I'll bet I can start
my peas early with this!" never mind the prospect of replacing oiled
sheepskin in his windows.

I believe 'the Spanish Prisoner' is a classic confidence scam,
although not usually associated with 1588.

The message
from Sacha contains these words:

(top posting corrected for logical progression! ;- )

Oh, so that's why I missed the message - I thought it was a slip of the
posting finger and deleted it.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:36 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...enhouse%20hist
ory%20-%20trends.htm


That's very interesting and informative, too. It looks as if that story
could well be true then. Thanks very much indeed.

It was interesting to find that greenhouse arrangements well pre-date
glass. Gardeners are a determined lot. I can well imagine a neighbor
of the person who first made glass saying, "Say, I'll bet I can start
my peas early with this!" never mind the prospect of replacing oiled
sheepskin in his windows.

I believe 'the Spanish Prisoner' is a classic confidence scam,
although not usually associated with 1588.

Frogleg12/2/04 8:59

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:24:36 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

Frogleg wrote:

Here's a site with *some* info, 'though not a specific answer to your
question.

http://www.sfasu.edu/ag/horticulture...reenhouse%20hi
st
ory%20-%20trends.htm


That's very interesting and informative, too. It looks as if that story
could well be true then. Thanks very much indeed.

It was interesting to find that greenhouse arrangements well pre-date
glass. Gardeners are a determined lot. I can well imagine a neighbor
of the person who first made glass saying, "Say, I'll bet I can start
my peas early with this!" never mind the prospect of replacing oiled
sheepskin in his windows.

I believe 'the Spanish Prisoner' is a classic confidence scam,
although not usually associated with 1588.

Thanks to all who have answered here and emailed. We will go to Greenway's
Magnolia and Camellia walk armed with information *and* questions. ;-)
BTW, do the Devonians among us know about these walks? They are on the RHS
website and places need to be booked in advance, giving car numbers for
parking spaces. We're going on 20th Feb and having lunch afterwards for
£9.50 p.p. The proceeds of that particular walk will go to Rowcroft
Hospice in memory of Frank Lavin, Mrs Christie's head gardener for many
years. Like most NT gardens, they don't open to the public before Easter but
these are specially arranged days.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)