Abbotford House near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders was the grand vision of renowned novelist, Sir Walter Scott. 

This late-Georgian glasshouse - known in more recent times as the Pavilion in honour of its resemblance to a medieval campaign tent - is thought to be the last structure built at Abbotsford during Scott’s lifetime.

The structure was built in 1825. It was the culmination of a period of extensive work in the gardens, encompassing changes to the garden walls and the creation of other new structures for cultivating fruits and tender plants. The interior of the Pavilion was originally heated around its perimeter by hot air rising from a stove situated in the sunken Furnace House on the other side of the garden wall.

Simpson & Brown led the restoration of this rare type of glasshouse to allow it to form part of the of the wider visitor experience, revealing the extent of Scott’s interest in hothouse technologies and bringing the process to life in an imaginative way for visitors.

Prior to the conservation work starting on site, archaeological investigations were carried out. Addyman Archaeology undertook historic building recording of the Pavilion, Furnace House and adjacent garden walls in April 2019 with additional work in November 2020 and July 2022. Within the Pavilion, five trenches were excavated, uncovering much of the original heating arrangement. They revealed that the Pavilion had a horizontal flue running around the interior of the wall below ground level. It carried hot air which enabled the cultivation of fruits and tender plants. The flue was connected to a coal-powered furnace in the Furnace House behind. The original cobbled surface of the Furnace House floor was excavated, revealing the footings from the original cast-iron furnace which form a U-shape in the cobbles. A representation of the furnace now occupies this original footprint.