| Description | Printed by Enoch and Sons 19 Holles Street. This beautiful picture of the exotic winter and summer garden at the Royal Aquarium encapsulates the Victorian love of conservatories and horticulture. The Era on 16 January 1876 published this enthusiastic description: "This fine promenade is covered with a roof of glass and iron, and the grace and freshness of a winter garden will be a great attraction, the hall being surrounded by palms and exotic trees and shrubs, the whole having the general aspect of a vast conservatory filled with splendid sculpture. Between these artificial groves fountains will play …". It is claimed that the garden contained 30,000 varieties of plants. |