KINLOCH CASTLE 

HOT-HOUSES AND TREE-NURSERY

Researched, written and illustrated by George W. Randall co-founder in 1996 and former Vice Chairman Kinloch Castle Friends' Association.

(Dated  c.1951 by Jimmy Smith, island resident  1938 - 1967.)

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BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION:

(The Newsletter  was deemed by a certain self-appointed KCFA member to 

"have little value" and ceased publication.)

The height at the rear wall was 13 feet 8 inches. The height to the Apex was 15 feet 8 inches.

The floor inside (wall to wall) was 18 feet 3 inches.

(Source: Jimmy Smith, island resident  1938 - 1967.)

The Victorian Age ushered in the Golden Era of greenhouses.

Glass was manufactured in vast quantities as the wealthy competed to build ever more elaborate structures for exotic fruit and flowers.

Victorian walled gardens had extensive, multi-sectioned greenhouses facing south 

against their north wall for controlling the growing stages of plants.

Another example of a greenhouse of the period.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE GLASSHOUSES

Builder’s Plan Scale: ⅛ inch equals 1 foot or 1 : 96

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SOUTH FACING PAVILION AND STOVE FERNERY

A STOVE FERNERY, was a glasshouse kept at high temperature for growing tropical plants. The Kinloch Castle stove fernery included a Tank 8 ft. 6 inches wide by 

30 ft. 6 inches long including 9 inch block retaining wall. 

If turtles, (more likely terrapins), were kept they would have been housed in the 

 central Stove Fernery Tank which had an internal length of  29 feet 6 inches 

and width of 7 feet. The 9 inches thick retaining wall was two foot high all round.

the tank itself had a depth (below floor level) of two feet. 

i.e. bottom of tank to top of surrounding wall four feet.

There is no evidence alligators were kept, but I was told by former islander Jim Smith there was a  heated snake pit between the castle and walled garden, 

and a mounted snake is displayed in the castle.

(Source: Jimmy Smith, island resident  1938 - 1967.)

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STOVE FERNERY  AND TANK (DETAIL)

THE CAMELIA HOUSE

Where Humming Birds flew freely.

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Layout at time of Sir George Bullough's death in 1939.

(Source: Jimmy Smith, island resident  1938 - 1967.)

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Heating for the glasshouses was provided from a dedicated boiler house against the 

north facing back wall through a double row horseshoe pipes running along the front 

of the multi-sectioned greenhouses, with sunken pipes underneath a grilled walkway 

full length at the back and all around the Palm Houses.

Full eave and ridge vents circulated fresh, cool air over the growing beds, 

eliminating hot spots the cause of poor growth.

Light levels make the plants grow faster and flowers bloom sooner.

TREE NURSERY

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THE GREENHOUSE COMPLEX AT KINLOCH CASTLE

Researched, written and illustrated by George W. Randall © June 2008

George W. Randall Archive

                                  1 : 600 scale sketches taken  from  original Builder's Plans.

(Photograph Jimmy Smith courtesy Ina Smith.)

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THE ARTICLE BELOW WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN MAY 2005

IN THE KINLOCH CASTLE FRIENDS' ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 

BY GEORGE W. RANDALL,

IT IS THE RESULT OF FIRST HAND ON-SITE RESEARCH BY THE AUTHOR

"Research, connecting the dots of history."

George W. Randall Research Archive 

Copyright © 

 

A REAL THREAT ... ... ...

DON'T DELAY  -  WRITE TODAY!
REVIEWED BY AUTHOR 17 AUGUST 2024

Sir George Bullough 

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