1970s and 80s - new glasshouses

A succession of short tenure Directors succeeded Dr. Taylor. John Heslop-Harrison was his immediate successor in 1971 and he instigated a variety of building projects during his five years in the position.

Most of these were seen through to completion during the next five years, when JPM Brenan was Director. These included Aiton House; a new Quarantine House (1979); the technologically advanced Alpine House (1981); and the complete restoration of the Temperate House from 1977-1980.

After this, Professor EA Bell maintained the momentum with building work beginning on the Princess of Wales Conservatory in 1984. A sprawl of glasshouses was demolished to make way for the Conservatory, including the T-Range. Earth thrown up from its radically advanced construction was used to create another mound near the Broad Walk.

Professor Bell also oversaw the start of the landscaped Sir Joseph Banks Centre for Economic Botany in 1985.

It was not always a question of new building, since 1984 was marked with the closure of the Palm House as structurally unsafe. A complete restoration of this structure was finally completed by the Property Services Agency in 1990.

Back to: 1945-Today: Modern Kew