National Trust Restoration: Jebb Glasshouse, Woolbeding Gardens ‍

In 2024, WSCB were appointed by the National Trust to carry out a sympathetic restoration of the glasshouse at Woolbeding Garden in West Sussex. Designed by British architect Philip Jebb, the structure forms an important part of the garden’s distinctive horticultural setting.

Originally built in the early 1980s, the glazed timber frame had begun to show signs of deterioration and rot. The warm, humid environment needed to support the glasshouse’s exotic planting had placed sustained pressure on the timber over time.

WSCB undertook an extensive programme of specialist carpentry works, replacing much of the timber frame with Accoya: a high-performance, sustainably sourced modified wood. Made from fast-growing softwood species, primarily Radiata pine, Accoya is treated at a molecular level with acetic acid under pressure to achieve exceptional durability, stability, and resistance to movement.

The use of Accoya will help the glasshouse withstand its demanding environmental conditions while retaining the character and appearance appropriate to its setting within Woolbeding Garden.

Delivered by WSCB’s time-served team of craftspeople, the restoration combined technical expertise with sensitivity to the glasshouse’s architectural significance. The completed structure is better equipped for long-term use and will continue to support Woolbeding Garden’s distinctive plant collection for years to come.