GLASS-HOUSES 93 



Bishop Robinson, the benefactor of Oriel College.* Like its prede- 

 cessor, the conservatory was afterwards used as a receptacle for books 

 instead of plants, and lectures were given therein. In the absence of 

 more precise information, it may be supposed that the large sum of 

 ^"2,257 8s. Jd., spent "chiefly on new buildings " between Michaelmas, 

 1734, and Michaelmas, 1736, was for the two Architectural Conservatories 

 within the walls, for the wooden Green-houses described below,f and for 

 the alterations to the Library, in consequence of the frequent declaration 

 of Sherard that he intended to leave his books to the University. It is 

 even stated that he saw and approved the plans. 



The third, or Western Architectural Conservatory, measured 66 ft. 

 long by 22 ft. wide in the centre, and 13^ ft. high ; it remained in 

 use as a plant-house till 1853, when "1,250 was spent to adapt it to 

 receive the Fielding Herbarium, and new green-houses were erected in its 

 place. Other alterations followed, but parts of its original fabric may still 

 be seen sandwiched between the white walls of 1911. The period of 

 Architectural Conservatories is now of the past in this country, though 

 one is still in use at Kew. They are better adapted for climates in which 

 the winter sun has greater strength than in ours, and in which, in summer, 

 grateful shade is afforded by the massive piers. 



The first wooden Green-houses, 30 ft. long by 10 ft. wide by 14 ft. 

 high in front, but only 10 ft. high at the back, were erected on both sides of 

 the Danby Gate adjoining the Architectural Conservatories. They were 

 lean-to, with steep-sloping sash-lights below round-headed top-lights. 

 They stood from 1734 till 1834, being then condemned by Daubeny. 

 A good engraving of them was published in the Oxford Almanack for 

 1766, and a later view appeared in 1836 in Ingram's " Memorials of 

 Oxford." J They were replaced by lean-to houses, of which the western 

 one was known as No. 2 (1834-79) and the eastern one as No. 3 Green- 

 house, which is still standing. No. I Green-house, a house of the same 



* Rawl. MS., " Chron. Univ.," quoted by Wood. Daubeny states that 

 Sherard gave ^5 f r the enlargement of a conservatory which was 

 finished by March, 1726-7. 



f Perhaps they were the Green -houses mentioned by Dillenius in a 

 letter to Richardson, and which "Sherard was having built about July II, 

 1734" (Druce, " Dill. Heib."). Of the same date, if not older, was the 

 "Stove House," 30 ft. by 14 ft. by 12 ft. high, a detached building with 

 glass only on one side, which was still standing in 1834 outside the wall 

 near the site of the present Palm House. 



J A ground-plan showing these houses, engraved by Hollis, was printed 

 by Daubeny. It was inscribed " Hortus Botanicus Oxonii." 



