Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are extensive gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond upon Thames and Kew in southwest London, England. The current director is Sir Peter Crane.

History

Kew Gardens originated in the exotic garden at Kew House formed by Lord Capel of Tewkesbury, enlarged and greatly extended by Princess Augusta, the widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, for whom Sir William Chambers built several garden structures, of which the lofty Chinese pagoda from 1761 remains. George III enriched the gardens, aided by the skill of William Aiton and of Sir Joseph Banks. The old Kew House was demolished in 1802. The "Dutch House" adjoining was purchased by George III in 1781 as a nursery for the royal children. It is a plain brick structure now known as Kew Palace.

Related Topics:
Tewkesbury - Princess Augusta - Frederick, Prince of Wales - William Chambers - Chinese - Pagoda - 1761 - George III - William Aiton - Joseph Banks - 1781 - Kew Palace

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In 1840 the gardens were adopted as a national botanical garden. Under Kew's new director, William Hooker, the gardens were increased to 30 ha (75 acres), and the pleasure grounds, or arboretum, extended to 109 ha (270 acres), and later to its current size of 120 ha (300 acres).

Related Topics:
1840 - Botanical garden - William Hooker - Ha - Arboretum

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The Palm House was built by architect Decimus Burton and iron-maker Richard Turner between 1841 and 1849, and was the first large-scale structural use of wrought iron. The Temperate house, which is twice as large, followed later in the 19th century. It is now the largest Victorian glasshouse in existence.

Related Topics:
Decimus Burton - Richard Turner - 1841 - 1849 - Wrought iron - 19th century

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Kew was the location of the successful effort in the 19th century to propagate rubber trees for cultivation outside South America.

Related Topics:
Rubber - South America

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1987 saw the opening of Kew's third major conservatory, the Princess of Wales Conservatory (opened by Princess Diana in commemoration of her predecessor Augusta's associations with Kew){{ref|augusta}}, which houses 10 different climate zones.

Related Topics:
1987 - Princess of Wales - Princess Diana - Augusta

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In July 2003, the gardens were put on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Related Topics:
2003 - World Heritage Sites - UNESCO

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On 10 August2003, a temperature of 38.1C (100.6F) was recorded at Kew, which is considered by many to be the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK.

Related Topics:
10 August - 2003 - UK

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