Palm House Including Greenhouse To South East And Terrace Walls To South West

The Palm House, with a greenhouse to the southeast and terrace walls to the southwest, dates to circa 1820-5 and is located within Bicton Park. The rear curtain walls are constructed of brick with limestone coping, plastered on the front face, while the terrace walls are built of local stone rubble topped with brick. The Palm House itself is a remarkable structure featuring a cast iron frame and glass walls and roof. A greenhouse is attached to the right (southeast), and to the left (northwest) the curtain wall includes an arch leading to the Pinetum and acts as a retaining wall for the terrace.

The Palm House is domed, facing southwest, with a projecting section at right angles to the rear wall, terminating in a rounded end. Lower, shorter wings extend on either side, connected by quadrant walls and half-domed roofs to the rear curtain wall. The curtain wall continues to the Orangery and is interrupted by the greenhouse gable. Behind the Palm House, the wall curves with steps corresponding to the glass roofs. The Palm House frame comprises a curving girder wall plate supported by rectangular-section iron posts, with vertical timber glazing bars and timber-framed glazed doors at the ends of each side wing. The roof features cast iron glazing bars, with each of the numerous small glass panes having convex lower edges to ensure overlapping.

Inside the side wings, tall, slender cast iron columns with bulbous, foliated bases and caps support the vault girders. Behind the central dome, louvred ventilators are operated by chains. The interior contains minimal furnishings: a single terracotta vase on a stucco pedestal, with others lining the exterior path. The greenhouse’s gable features limestone ashlar walls, corner piers with molded caps, and central double doors with panelled bottoms and glazed tops, accessed by a flight of steps. Cast iron statues of seated dogs (likely 20th century) sit atop the doors. The greenhouse's glass walls include glazing bars and elliptical-headed upper lights. The Palm House is considered both stunningly beautiful and an early example of an iron-framed glass house, harmoniously set within the surrounding landscaped gardens and forming part of a significant group that includes the Orangery, the Italiarate Gardens, and the Church of St. Mary.