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Water garden

In the 19th century many upper middle-class families aspired to having a conservatory. This was seldom possible in town but Linley created this ingenious mini conservatory or Water Garden by taking out the landing window and inserting a glass box that projected out from the rear wall of the house. Here he had an aquarium with goldfish in it (fed by a fountain in the centre) with space around it for exotic plants and a collection of minerals, geological specimens and shells. Natural History and the origin of species was the big scientific topic of the age, so this was very much in keeping with the fashion of the day....
1875
Glass, metal, minerals, and shells
53.0 x 78.0cm
ST/F/234
Image and text © The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.

Where you'll find this

Sambourne House
Permanent collection