What is the Garden Museum?
The Garden Museum explores and celebrates British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions, events and garden.Visitors will also see a permanent display of paintings, tools, ephemera and historic artefacts: a glimpse into the uniquely British love affair with gardens.Whether you are an enthusiastic amateur gardener, more of a specialist or someone with a passion for museums, history or architecture, the Museum has something for you.
On the outside is an ancient church, but inside sits an innovative architectural timber structure that has rescued this historical building and transformed it into one of London’s main museum attractions. This abandoned church is the burial place of John Tradescant (c1570 – 1638), the first great gardener and plant-hunter in British History. To save the church from demolition in 1977 it became a Garden Museum. Then in 2008 architects Dow Jones transformed the interior of the church using a fantastic two-storey structure which wraps around the aisles of the existing building.
Architect Joe Howland said: “Phase one was to design and install a new timber structure to extend the existing one. It’s been a slow process as it’s a very old building. We’ve had to think carefully about the archaeology of the church. We are hoping to have phase two complete next March.”
Phase two includes painting both the new and old timber structures using linseed paint.
“I’m really pleased with the samples. The darker knots on the older timber aren’t causing any problems, which I’d initially expected. I wanted to create an effect where the knots of the wood show through and create a natural feel to the Garden Museum".
The new timber structures create a pathway to guide visitors through the exhibitions. The timber walls create new galleries for the permanent collection and for temporary exhibitions. There’s also a new education room.
The new interior layout of the building has also allowed the museum’s wide range of events and workshops to take place including over 30 talks and interviews, plant sales and much more.
Products used on The Garden Museum