This design would soon be adopted by other greenhouse makers.
Joseph Paxton’s great Conservatory at Chatsworth by William Callow.
The waterlilys giant leaves provided the inspiration for his conservatory.
Paxton even tested the leaves sturdiness by floating his daughter Annie on a leaf.
Annie Paxton standing on a Victoria amazonica leaf in the lily house.
In 1836, Paxton began construction of the Great Conservatory.
This huge glasshouse was 227 feet long, 123 feet wide and 62 feet tall.
It was the largest glass building in the world.
The boilers fed a seven-mile maze of 6-inch hot water pipes.
In winter, it took 300 tons of coal to fuel the boilers.
A modern reimagination of the Great Conservatory.
