Hothouse Loddiges Garden E8

Open:

Saturday 14:00–17:00 + Sunday 14:00–17:00

Description:

Hothouse Loddiges Garden is being located at the Hothouse, the specialist centre for creativity-based regeneration run by Free Form Arts Trust. The name ‘Hothouse' recalls Loddiges's ‘largest hothouse in the world', which boasted the best collection of palms and exotic plants in Europe in the early 19th century. Planting will be based on illustrations from the 18th-century periodical The Botanical Cabinet by Conrad Loddiges (published 1817–33). The perimeter garden and courtyard are dedicated to the Loddiges family.

The Loddiges’s nursery rose to great prominence during the early 19th century under George Loddiges (1786–1846), who published 2000 coloured plates of rare plants and built the hothouse to display them. In the late 1830s George Loddiges became involved in the design and landscaping of Abney Park Cemetery.

The business closed in the 1850s, after grandson Conrad Loddiges II was unable to negotiate a new lease with landowners St Thomas’ Hospital, Conrad Loddiges offered the whole of the exotic plant stock to Kew Gardens for a sum of £9000 (20 years earlier the collection was valued at £200,000) but this was refused. Paxton purchased 300 palms and plants for the Crystal Palace and the remaining stock was sold in four lots at auction.

Free Form has dedicated part of Hothouse to heritage and arts activities to serve as a living memorial to the Loddiges legacy. A permanent Loddiges display and exhibit are planned.

Entrance:

Martello Street / Richmond Road, Press Free Form button on the entrance gate(s).

Buses:

26, 30, 38, 48, 55, 106, 236, 242, 253, 254, 276, 277, 394, D6

Stations:

London Fields, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs

Dogs:

Working assistance dogs only

Further information:

• Street Map (in new window)
• Garden's web site (in new window)