Renovation & Restoration
Project: Oatlands Plantation
Background
| Greenhouse Restoration Project
 
Background
The Oatlands Greenhouse was constructed circa
1810. It has undergone major alterations through the years
with extensive work being done after a fire in 1851, and again
in 1903 when the property was acquired by the Eustis Family.
There is only one older greenhouse of this type in the United
States. It was built in 1804 at the Lyman Estate in Waltham,
Massachusetts. It is still in use today but shows little of
its historic character.
Many aspects of the original design of Carter's greenhouse
are still open to speculation, but based on available information,
it appears consistent with descriptions of rare early greenhouses
of this era. By 1700, improvements in glassmaking allowed
greater use of glass; however, even with the improvements
in glassmaking technology, greenhouses were still expensive
and remained a luxury item well into the 20th century.
Finding good ways to heat greenhouses has been a continuing
effort. Advances in heating technologies brought a variety
of improvements in heating systems. Flue heating was popular
in the 18th and 19th centuries and provided uniform heat.
It also could be used underground. Brick flues set the length
of the building with a brick fireplace on one end and chimney
on the other remained the norm for many years. This is the
system that we believe was in the Oatlands greenhouse.
We do not know the exact configuration because archaeology
has not been completed in the hothouse portion of the greenhouse.
A test pit did determine the orginal floor was two to three
feet lower than the existing grade. A ground penetrating radar
scan was made to assist in the archaeology evaluation.
Background
| Greenhouse Restoration Project
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