The Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s secret garden, the oldest botanical garden in London, founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. The purpose of the garden was to train apprentice apothecaries in the identification and use of medicinal plants. Tucked away beside the Thames, the garden is now a celebration of the beauty and importance of plants. It houses a unique living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants, all contained within its sheltering walls.

In 2016 Stone Edge Conservation was tasked with some restoration work to the cool fernery at Chelsea Physic Garden. Following removal of the planting, the failing masonry paint was stripped off using super heated cleaning to expose the original brickwork. We used lime based pointing to make good the brickwork and then applied a breathable mineral based paint. A waterproof membrane was installed to the perimeter of the planter box and the cast iron glazing support columns were redecorated.

All work was carried out to tight deadlines to ensure the cool fernery was ready for the garden re-opening. Care was taken to ensure all waste materials were collected during the construction process to prevent any hazardous materials entering the soil.