Readers have been called upon for their ideas on how to utilise a to-be repurposed conservatory, recently added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register (HAR), so as to meet community needs.
Dating back to 1813 and located within the Chiswick House and Gardens 65 acre estate, the conservatory is a Grade I listed site, placing it within England’s top 2.5% most prestigious buildings.
The timber frame supporting Chiswick House’s conservatory is in a state of disrepair, but hope that the building’s glass and structure will be replaced has increased since it was put on the HAR list, as the register seeks to amplify support for historically significant buildings at risk of decay.
The Director of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Xanthe Arvanitakis explained: “Previous repairs won’t hold and so we need a renewal.
“We have a collaborative and productive partnership with Historic England and the conservatory now formally recognised on the HAR will give us the additional evidence needed when going out to funders.
“I am more than hopeful, I am confident that the project will work.”
This is not just a win for historical preservation; the wider Hounslow borough can benefit from a repurpose intending to serve the community.
This is partly because Historic England, the public body dedicated to protecting England’s historic environment, encourages all developments to consider ecological and economic sustainability.
And the Chiswick Trust recognises this. In the midst of a 10 year community redevelopment plan that launched post-pandemic the entire estate is being redefined as a Creative and Community Hub.
The initial phases introduced a Community Garden and the Artist Studios; 19 studios built into the back of the conservatory, away from the dangerous glass and timbre, to provide affordable creative workspaces to rent, generating income for the Trust.
Sculptor in residence Gillian Brett said: “The studio space is full of historic and quirky details: an old fireplace and plenty of cupboards, which are so useful for storing tools and materials.
“Us artists are enjoying knowledge sharing and collaborating across skillsets, and also finding opportunities to interact with the local community.”
A Learning Hub is next on the cards with the conservatory to follow but the exact community-focused purpose of the conservatory is undetermined.
Arvanitakis said: “Through the feasibility work and consultations we will work through what the conservatory will be repurposed for — but we don’t know at the moment — that is a question you can pose to your readers.”
The Trust’s plan compliments other community initiatives across Hounslow that have arisen after the pandemic, such as Heston in the Loop and Grow for the Future.
Hounslow Council’s Thriving Communities Strategy 2024-2028 bolsters this, stating a commitment to support local communities, civil society, and the local voluntary sector against the UK’s unstable economy.
But these projects come at a cost and The Community Garden, Artists’ Studios and Learning Hub is set to total £6.4million.
Funding for the conservatory renewal must be raised on top of this, estimated between £5-8million.
Arvanitakis explained: “There is a whole array of funders, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to individuals.”
Contributions have been made from Hounslow Council. In 2022, £423,000 was pulled from the New Homes Bonus (NHB), a non-ringfenced grant rewarding additions to an area’s housing stock.
But the NHB will be retracted going into 2026, as part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, contributing to a £4billion funding gap in the boroughs expected by 2029, as found by the London Council’s analysis from October this year.
This financial insecurity is felt across community initiatives. In Hounslow’s Annual Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Survey, ‘creating a sustainable funding base’ was listed as the top concern for 2023-2026.
With local council funding in trouble, the enhanced support brought by the HAR is invaluable.
Chiswick Homefields Councillor, John Todd, said: “I am very pleased that many people will now fund this incredible, unique project.”
Already reaping the benefits from developments so far in the Studios, Brett said: “I look forward to maximising the potential of this well loved destination to ensure long term public benefit.”
If the regeneration project proves successful, the conservatory will be removed from the list.
Following the 2025 review of the HAR this November, 21 sites were added but 20 were removed, totaling the register to 4,891.
But for now, attention is on the undefined final product of the conservatory’s repurposing.
Kept alive by its history and potential for community use, the question to the South West Londoner readers is: what should Chiswick’s community conservatory look like?
Feature image credit: Jennifer Thompson Chatburn
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