Glasshouse And Packing Shed At Rocky Hill Farm

The glasshouse and packing shed at Rocky Hill Farm is a flower packing and potting shed with a glasshouse located to the south. It dates from after 1867, with the potting shed built between 1880 and 1906 according to Ordnance Survey maps. This structure is associated with William Trevellick, who is reputed to be the first flower exporter from the Isles of Scilly to Covent Garden. The building is constructed from coursed granite rubble with corrugated iron cladding on the north gable end. The packing shed has an asbestos sheet gabled roof, while the glasshouse features a gabled roof set on low granite rubble walls.

The packing shed has a part-glazed north elevation resting on a granite plinth, with a wide doorway that has a timber door. To the left of the doorway is a three-light fixed pane window, and to the right is a smaller four-light fixed pane window. The glasshouse has a slender timber frame, all painted on the exterior, with mullions supporting the glazed panels.

Inside, the packing and potting shed has a softwood internal frame and trusses, with benches made from wreck timber along the sides. The glasshouse contains old benches on the sides, with nailed collars to the roof. There is a tying room in the northwest corner, adjacent to the doorway into the packing shed, which has an internal bench and partition walls made of fixed pane windows over horizontal weatherboarding. The doors are old planks with wrought-iron latches. This building is considered the most complete and impressive example of its type in the Scillies. The flower industry, introduced to the islands by Augustus Smith during his mid-19th century restructuring of the local economy, became a crucial part of the Scillies' economy. The glasshouse is featured in the Gibson photographic collection of Victorian prints and belonged to William Trevellick, who is said to have sent flowers in a hatbox to Covent Garden in 1867.