Hanbury Barclay's Cucumber House

This is the last post in the series on the structural alterations that the tenant of Middleton Hall, Hanbury Barclay, made at Middleton Hall in about 1875. It focuses on his Cucumber House. The Cucumber House was constructed in the Small Walled Garden, directly to the south of and parallel to the lean-to glasshouse.

Plan of the layout of the structures of the Small Walled Garden in c.1880. Drawn by Richard Jordan.

The cucumber originates from India. It was a favourite food of the Romans, who are credited as having been the first to grow cucumbers in a dedicated, extremely early, version of the glasshouse. Cucumbers have to be grown under glass in Europe because they require a steady temperature of about 25-30°C and a lot of sunlight.

It is believed that an attempt was first made to introduce the cucumber to England in the 13th century, but the climate was unsuitable and they failed to grow. They were successfully re-introduced in the 16th century. In 1597, John Gerard wrote that they were able to be grown in hotbeds. These hotbeds were heated by a layer of decaying manure beneath the soil. Bell glasses, straw and cloth placed over the plants were also used to try and protect the cucumbers from the cold. However, it was the development of heated glasshouses and subsequent improvements in glasshouse technology that made growing cucumbers in England easier and more widespread.

Hanbury’s construction of the Cucumber House coincides with the era of a British cucumber craze: the cucumber sandwich. It is reported that the origin of the cucumber sandwich came as a result of British colonists in India seeking a refreshing afternoon food to help them cope with the heat. It then made its way back to England and became a staple of high tea, especially in high society.

Unfortunately, we do not have a photograph of Hanbury’s Cucumber House and, although we know it was still present in 1925, it had either been demolished or had collapsed before Middleton Hall Trust was formed in 1980.

Further Reading: John Gerard. The Herball, 1636. pp.909-912.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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