A hidden but historic attraction in a popular Nottingham park is to be opened up to the public after an intriguing piece of history was restored. The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos, opened the newly reconstructed Victorian Cucumber House in Wollaton Hall's secret Walled Garden on 11am Tuesday, June 27.
Today, we can buy pineapples and cucumbers any day of the week and at any time of the year, but 150 years ago that was impossible. As a result, Lord Middleton, whose family owned the landmark for centuries, spent just under £1 million to build forcing houses at Wollaton in 1865, in order to grow both fruits and vegetables in the middle of winter as easily as in the height of the summer.
The hard work of more than 50 volunteers has now returned the Cucumber House to its former glory, with it being one of only a few remaining Victorian forcing houses in the country. The process of completely reglazing the roof of the structure, which also used to grow pineapples, has recently been completed by the Walled Garden volunteers
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The group have been clearing and restoring the abandoned Walled Garden for the last four years and last year began the £30,000 restoration work, which was formally opened by the Sheriff on Tuesday morning (June 27). The Sheriff also launched a book detailing how the aristocracy used to compete with each other to produce pineapples and cucumbers.
The Walled Garden in Wollaton Park will be open for special guided tours over the weekend of July 1 and 2. This will cost a donation of £5.
The book about the Cucumber House will also cost £5. Children have free admission and all proceeds will go towards supporting the Walled Garden project.
