“A dramatic giant glass mushroom.” That’s how some describe the Kibble Palace. We are standing before an icon of Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. It’s more than just a greenhouse. The Kibble Palace is a testament to Victorian ingenuity and a haven for plant lovers.
Let’s dive into the Kibble Palace’s unique story. It begins with John Kibble. He was an engineer and photographer with a penchant for the extraordinary. Kibble designed this glasshouse for his home at Coulport on Loch Long in the 1860s. Architects James Boucher and James Cousland assisted him. Walter Macfarlane’s Saracen Foundry in Possilpark cast the components.
Imagine the scene. The Kibble Palace wasn’t always here. It was transported by barge up the River Clyde. The Forth and Clyde Canal led to Maryhill. From there it was carted and reassembled in the gardens in 1873. Boyd of Paisley undertook the reconstruction.
Initially, the Kibble Palace served as an exhibition and concert venue. Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone were installed as rectors of the University of Glasgow here. This was in 1873 and 1879 respectively. These were its last uses as a public events venue. It became wholly dedicated to cultivating temperate plants from the 1880s.
Notice the structure. It has curved wrought iron and glass. Cast-iron beams support it all. These beams rest on ornate columns. Masonry foundations lie beneath. The central dome was enlarged to 146 feet in diameter. A large entrance foyer was added with nave, transepts and a central crossing dome.
Look around at the lush greenery. The Kibble Palace is home to a diverse collection of plants. The main plant group is the collection of New Zealand and Australian tree ferns. Some have thrived here for 120 years. They now form the national tree fern collection.
Did you know about the sculptures? The Kibble Palace houses a collection of 19th-century sculptures. These include “Eve” by Scipione Tadolini, “Cain” by Edwin Roscoe Mellins and “King Robert of Sicily” by George Henry Paulin.
In the 1920s, the statue of “King Robert of Sicily” was added. He is a figure from the works of the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The Victorians excused the erotic sculptures as art.
Consider this. The use of glass with slender iron glazing bars was almost unique in the 19th century. The structure was based on a form of industrialized building. The structural frame elements were mass-produced.
In 2004, a major restoration project began. It cost £7 million. The National Lottery Heritage Fund contributed £3.4 million. Glasgow City Council and Historic Environment Scotland also supported it. The restoration involved carefully dismantling the palace. The parts were taken to Shepley Engineers in Shafton, South Yorkshire. There, they underwent specialized repair and conservation. The plant collection was completely removed for the first time. The ironwork was re-assembled over a re-arranged internal floor layout. It re-opened to the public in November 2006.
The Kibble Palace also boasts a collection of orchids and carnivorous plants. Many claim that families set goldfish free here. They were fed up cleaning their children’s fish tanks.
Let’s not forget the Suffragettes. In January 1914, they tried to blow up the Kibble Palace. A night watchman discovered a bomb and extinguished it. A second bomb exploded shattering 27 panes of glass.
The Kibble Palace is more than just a building. It’s a living museum. It’s a place where history, architecture and nature intertwine. As we leave, remember the story of John Kibble. Remember the journey of this glasshouse. Remember the plants that have thrived here for over a century. The Kibble Palace is a true gem of Glasgow.