Issue 99 – October 2014
GLASSHOUSE PEOPLE by Stephen Guy, West Derby Society Conservatories continue to be popular as comfortable extensions to houses where people can relax in pleasant surroundings throughout the year. West Derby played a part in Victorian and Edwardian times when bigger and better glasshouses appeared. Several big houses sported conservatories as well as substantial greenhouses in their grounds. The Earl of Sefton had many hothouses at Croxteth Hall and they are still an attraction in the walled garden.
Paint manufacturer Richard le Doux cultivated prize orchids at Marlfield, his grand house off Town Row. After his death the blooms were auctioned off to enthusiasts. Among the houses that boasted large conservatories were Blackmoor, Leyfield Priory and Holly Lodge. It is believed a large conservatory was planned for Lowlands in Haymans Green but abandoned when the owner, Thomas Randles Withers, died suddenly. Two doors were left leading nowhere. Lowlands, the West Derby Community Centre, was recently given a big
aspidistra which is now on the top landing. The Victorians were very fond of these evergreens from the Far East. They
placed the ornamental plants in their cluttered homes where they thrived on little attention. There were several prosperous nurseries where flowers and other plants were grown in large greenhouses. A century ago Leyfield Nursery had 10 greenhouses and another in the Village around 20. At least two West Derby companies supplied glasshouses across Britain. Shilton’s, based in the Village, was founded in 1876. An advert from 1908 (pictured) shows an enormous greenhouse. The company’s products included conservatories, greenhouses, vineries, garden frames, poultry houses and dog kennels. The advert said: “Erected in any part of the country by
experienced workmen, with all the latest improvements. A large quantity to select from. Delivered free to any railway station in England and Wales.” On Leyfield Road Roberts the heating engineer designed and built hothouses of every description for any part of the country. He patented a new system of ventilating equipment and said greenhouse heating was his speciality. Mr Roberts declared: “The life of every plant depends upon proper and necessary heat. I make it my business to become acquainted with the most progressive ideas, practices and requirements of the heating trade.” Nurseries and small holdings were a feature of West Derby until the 1960s when most were developed for housing. Join the West Derby Society at its next meeting 7.30 pm on Wednesday 15 October at Lowlands, 13 Haymans Green, Liverpool L12 7JG.