• Palm House Set To Welcome Visitors
    23/06/2008

    Torquay's much-loved haven of warmth and all things tropical is looking like new. Improvement works totalling almost £53,000 have helped to secure Torre Abbey's Palm House for the future.

    The Palm House was built in 1939 and then rebuilt 30 years later with an expected life span of 25 years.  But at one stage staff working in the garden had to wear hard hats because panes of glass were falling out.

    Torbay Civic Society described it as 'one of the few remaining gems of our natural heritage' and voiced concern that it could be lost.

    The recent improvement works include:
    Repairs to the boiler
    Replacement of the lower glass panes with toughened glass
    Removal of high-level glazing and replacing it with safety glass
    Replacing the two doors
    Securing all of the aluminium framework
    Repairing all of the ventilation system and
    Various repairs to the inside of the Palm House.

    Torbay Council cabinet member Cllr Jeanette Richards said: "It is a really exciting time for the abbey as those involved in the multi-million pound restoration project gear up for the preview opening at the beginning of July.

    "Time had clearly taken its toll on the Palm House and while one of the options available was to remove it entirely, the council was committed to preserving it for future generations to enjoy.

    "We are also excited to be receiving the Palm House's latest residents - six new palms courtesy of Kew Gardens. They are due at the end of the month and will include species such as a Queen and Elephant's Foot Palm."

News