In the early nineteenth century, glasshouses were relatively small and little different from the orangeries of previous years. They were predominantly built of stone with large windows, and, occasionally, glazed roofs.

At Syon the commission for the new Conservatory was given to Charles Fowler, an architect who specialised in large industrial buildings; in his use of the new metalworking technologies being developed in the English midlands, he spanned the twin disciplines of architecture and engineering. At Syon he created a building whose delicate structure was combined with a neo-classical elevation on a Palladian model.

Backed by the huge range of growing houses in the newly-built nursery, the Great Conservatory was filled with exotic plants from all corners of the world. Thus there were “Cape” plants from South Africa, “New Holland” plants from Australia, and Camellias from China. By the 1880s palms and giant bamboos grew to the top of the Dome, but the social and political disruption arising from the First World War lead to a period of decline.

The building was extensively restored in 1986/7 and, although now entirely unheated, it is an important historic structure in a remarkably good condition.

The one hundred acres of parkland at Syon is essentially the landscape created over twenty years by ‘Capability’ Brown in the eighteenth century.

However, this landscape is formed out of and on top of a pre-existing layout. Thus the two lakes were excavated along a prehistoric channel of the Thames, but much of the open parkland was simply made by enclosing fields, removing hedgerows and buildings, and re-routing roads. The best testament to this is a number of ancient oak trees, including two which would have seen the Royalist army marching past to the Battle of Brentford in 1642. It is likely that Brown would have retained these trees to give maturity to his new landscape.

Syon Park is around 200 acres in extent, of which about 2/3 is composed of a remarkable variety of grasslands. These range from fine lawns to the open meadow of the Brown parkland. A number of areas are also managed for specific purposes, such as a traditional hay meadow to the east of Syon House, a spring meadow of primroses and cowslips in the Arboretum, and more exotic annual plantings.

Along the edge of the drive in from Isleworth a strip of cornfield annuals is planted every year and the fields beyond are grazed with cattle. A programme of re-planting in the parkland has introduced a limited number of trees, but it is important that this remains open meadow, with specimen trees.

There is also a considerable variety in management practices. Some areas of grassland will be cut on a weekly basis, but others may be left uncut over the summer or for longer periods. The real benefit of this is the habitat potential of longer grass and undisturbed areas, which encourage populations of insects and small mammals, which, in turn, provide food for birds and larger mammals.