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Chateau Rolls Royce, Belgium
Verdant Overgrowth – Framed/Unframed Fine Art Print now available.
Chateau Rolls Royce is a large abandoned Belgian house that dates back to the 18th century. There was a phase of expansion works during the 19th century. In addition, stable areas and the large greenhouse/orangery were built. Furthermore, a stable block and several additional outbuildings were also constructed.
In the winter of 2017, different photos of the greenhouse emerged. Scaffolding and sheets covered the greenhouse exterior. Evidently some building work had begun. Consequently, the greenhouse has now been renovated and saved.
The greenhouse where nature has taken over
The large Chateau Rolls Royce greenhouse is constructed of sturdy wrought iron. This has stood strong for over a century. This greenhouse would have certainly also be used as an orangery (orangerie). Here, oranges and lemons would have been grown year-round. Fruit would be stored here during the winter months, to protect from frosts. Orangeries were a popular features of chateaus and castles in 19th century Europe. Most of the glass has fallen out of the roof over the years, but lot of the wall glass remains surprisingly intact.
The side rooms have many benches where plants would have been grown, in addition to the main room. Pipework suggests some sort of automatic watering system may have been fitted. The large central area features a dramatic domed ceiling. A decorative faux rock outcrop feature stands on one side of the Chateau Rolls Royce greenhouse. The opposite side is encircled with benches and shelving for potted plants. The whole greenhouse is spectacularly overgrown. It has been slowly swallowed by vegetation over the decades. A rickety old chair is almost entirely engulfed by ivy, beside the bench.
We squeeze (carefully) through a broken window pane, on the morning we visited the greenhouse. We have to scramble our way through the dense vegetation and around the benches one of the side rooms. Picking out a way towards the central chamber, moving with care. Nature was slowly but surely reclaiming this greenhouse. The plants creeping inch by inch up the metal frame year after year. At Chateau Rolls Royce, nature truly did take over. If only for a time.
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12 Comments
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Oooooo love these greenhouse shots ?
Thanks! Plants clearly taking revenge on the gardeners after years of subjugation. Rise up!
Sooooooo pretty!
I agree sir, just needs a few more ferns and it would be perfect <3
Lovely!
Still one of my favorite places ever, loved the green coming in ?
Thank you my dear, it is also one of my favourites. I am a keen gardener and this place was almost magical ?
dag beste,
ik ben een meisje van veertien en ben dol op verlaten plekken, mijn droom is dan ook om een wereldreis te maken maar geen gewone natuurlijk. eentje om verlaten plaatsen over heel de wereld te bewonderen! ik ben al een hele tijd opzoek naar het adres van deze pracht locatie. het is net een sprookje! ik zou het echt heel erg waarderen moest u mij helpen met de zoektocht naar het adres en een droom uit te laten komen!
alvast bedankt om dit te lezen en het misschien te overwegen.
groetjes Phaedra
Hallo Phaedra,
Het spijt me te moeten zeggen dat het rennovatiewerk ongeveer 1,5-2 jaar geleden is begonnen. Ik heb foto’s gezien die de hele kas tonen bedekt met steigers. Ik weet zeker dat je mijn verdriet deelt over het verlies van deze “verloren plek”, maar we kunnen blij zijn dat deze is opgeslagen :).
Bedankt voor je bericht, Janine
Does anyone know the family that used to live here? Any names or anything 🥺
Sorry, there isn’t any further information. Also, this has been renovated now along with the house 🙂
This are some amazing and lovely photos. Have the greenhouse been renovated? I would love to see how it is now vs how it was when it was abandoned, any clue of how could I see the renovated greenhouse? It is just because Im planning on building one like this, because I have felt in love with the design of this one, and seeing it renovated would help a lot
That sounds amazing Mike, what a joy it must be to renovate a greenhouse! Sadly I don’t have any photos of the renovated greenhouse, I have only seen photos of it under covers/scaffolding early on in the work. If I ever see any I will be sure to send them over to you 🙂