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The History of Kew Gardens

Started by a queen-in-waiting and boosted by kings and scientists, Kew Gardens is a story of royal roots and radical plant science. Since 1759, it’s gone from cozy garden to 121-hectare giant, changing how we understand and protect plants around the world. And it’s still blooming strong.

Kew Gardens timeline

1759 – Princess Augusta starts a 9-acre botanic garden at Kew, planting the first seeds of what would become a global center for plant science.
1761 – The Great Pagoda is built by William Chambers.
1772 – King George III merges the Kew and Richmond estates, creating a sprawling royal garden of over 300 acres.
1840 – Kew becomes a national institution, led by Sir William Hooker. It opens to the public and kicks off a new era of research.
1863 – The Temperate House is unveiled, later restored in 2018 to reclaim its title as the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world.
1889 – Kew’s first titan arum blooms—nicknamed the ‘corpse flower’ for its foul smell, and instantly becomes a crowd-puller.
1952 – The discovery of DNA’s structure helps shape Kew’s work in plant genetics, opening new paths in biodiversity research.
2003 – Kew earns UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its incredible mix of botanical collections and historic architecture.
2007 – The Millennium Seed Bank hits a major milestone, preserving its one-billionth seed to help protect the world’s plant life.
2018 – The beautifully restored Temperate House reopens and the Great Pagoda’s dragons make a triumphant return.

Kew Gardens history explained

The start of Kew Gardens (1759)

Princess Augusta launched Kew’s journey in 1759 by creating a 9-acre garden focused on exotic and medicinal plants. With help from botanist Lord Bute and architect William Chambers, she kickstarted Kew’s legacy in plant science.

Establishment of the Great Pagoda (1761)

Built in 1761 by Sir William Chambers, the 163-foot Great Pagoda brought Chinese flair to Georgian Kew. Its 80 dragons vanished in 1784, but they returned in golden glory in 2018!

A royal merger (1772)

In 1772, George III made a big move, merging Kew with Richmond’s estates, creating a sprawling 300-acre botanical wonderland. This expanded Kew’s plant collection and opened doors for worldwide plant exploration.

Kew goes public (1840)

When Sir William Hooker took the reins, Kew opened its gates to the public and shifted its focus to scientific research. He even invented Wardian cases, revolutionizing how plants were transported worldwide!

The debut of Temperate House (1863)

The Temperate House, once the biggest Victorian glasshouse, showcased plants from temperate zones. Its 2018 restoration revived 10,000 glass panes and rare species.

The first corpse flower (1889)

Kew’s first titan arum, aka “corpse flower,” bloomed with its infamous rotting-meat smell and 10-foot spike. Native to Sumatra, it helped put Kew on the map for rare plant conservation!

DNA breakthrough fuels Kew’s genetic revolution (1953)

In 1953, Watson and Crick cracked the DNA code, changing biology forever. For Kew, this discovery unlocked the ability to study plants’ genetics and help protect endangered species.

UNESCO World Heritage Recognition (2003)

UNESCO gave Kew the gold star in 2003, thanks to its 250-year legacy of rare plants, scientific breakthroughs, and stunning architecture like the Palm House.

A billion seeds saved (2007)

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst preserved its billionth seed, storing wild plant species threatened by climate change. It partners with over 100 countries to support conservation, ecosystem restoration, and global food security.

Major restoration projects (2018)

The Temperate House reopened after a £41 million restoration, repairing thousands of glass panes and reviving rare plants. Meanwhile, the Great Pagoda’s 80 dragons returned, restoring an iconic 18th-century landmark.

Construction of Kew Gardens

Imagine a garden where a Chinese pagoda, a classical temple, and a faux ruin all coexist. That was the magic of Kew’s construction era. Sir William Chambers built over 20 eye-catching structures for Princess Augusta, inspired by everything from Rome to China. His bold style paved the way for the quirky, emotional garden style known as jardin anglo-chinois. With landscape designer William Nesfield’s sweeping touches later on, Kew bloomed into a true masterpiece of design and science.

Kew Gardens today

Today’s Kew Gardens is part jungle, part science lab, and part open-air museum. You’ll wander past tropical palms, exotic blooms, and architectural gems like the Temperate House—plus, every path is packed with plant power. Kew’s researchers work behind the scenes to protect species from extinction, and its heritage goes way back to the 1700s. So if you love plants, history, or both, this is London’s greenest escape.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kew Gardens history

How old are Kew’s oldest buildings?

Some date back to the 1750s, including temples and the Orangery by Sir William Chambers.

How many buildings did Chambers design at Kew?

Over 20! From the Great Pagoda to temples, he gave Kew its early architectural flair.

Why are there Chinese buildings at Kew?

18th-century Europe was super inspired by Asia, so architect William Chambers added temples and a pagoda based on what he saw during his travels.

Why are dragons back on the Pagoda?

They were removed in 1784 and lost. In 2018, all 80 dragons were rebuilt using historic drawings and modern 3D printing!

What’s the deal with the Palm House?

Built in the 1840s, it’s one of the world’s first iron-and-glass wonders, and it’s still packed with tropical drama.

Why is the Orangery special?

It’s Kew’s oldest surviving building, from 1761, originally used to shelter citrus trees in winter.

How did Kew help spread food crops?

It played a huge role in moving plants like tea, rubber, and quinine around the world during the colonial era.