The Camellia House
The Camellia House at Wentworth Woodhouse, derelict for 50 years, has been transformed into a public tearoom and heritage venue. The restoration protects rare camellia plants while fostering sustainability, community engagement, training, and inclusive access in South Yorkshire.
Camellias – flowering plants native to East Asia – were a prized novelty in 18th and 19th-century Europe. At Wentworth Woodhouse, the largest stately home in Britain, The Camellia House was built in 1738 as a tea pavilion, and extended in 1812 to house a rare collection of camellias, now among the oldest surviving in the Western world.
After the estate fell into decline in the 1980s, the Grade II*-listed building stood empty and decaying for over five decades. By the early 2000s, its roof had collapsed, and the plants – some dating to the 1800s – were left exposed to the elements. In 2019, the International Camellia Society confirmed their historic significance, prompting urgent action.
The restoration project of The Camellia House is part of a wider regeneration of the Wentworth Woodhouse site led by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust. With £4.5 million in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £614,000 from Historic England and funds from other charitable partners, the Trust restored The Camellia House as a publicly accessible tearoom and events space.
The design by Donald Insall Associates integrated traditional craftsmanship with low-carbon upgrades: breathable insulation, a rainwater harvesting system, and underfloor heating powered by a ground-source heat pump. The rare camellias remained in situ throughout, protected by bespoke scaffolding and monitored daily by the head gardener.
The restoration project was developed through extensive consultation and technical studies involving conservation architects, plaster specialists, structural engineers and historians. All proposals were reviewed by Historic England and supported by detailed surveys, archaeological studies and material analyses.
The Camellia House now serves as both a public venue and a community anchor. More than 10,000 people have visited it since its opening in 2024, including many from marginalised groups. Community Mondays, a Changing Places facility and step-free access throughout ensure broad inclusion. During restoration, a training programme involving 19 apprentices provided hands-on experience in heritage construction, while a wider outreach effort included schools, universities, and site tours for professional groups.
By preserving its botanical and architectural legacy, the project has removed The Camellia House from Historic England’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register and laid the groundwork for the long-term revitalisation of the wider site. It offers a transferable model for restoring historic greenhouses and garden buildings – balancing heritage, sustainability and social impact in a meaningful and replicable way.
“This restoration project removed The Camellia House from the heritage at risk register. The revival of a rare camellia collection and the integration of energy-efficient features demonstrate a balanced approach to horticultural, architectural and environmental heritage,” the Awards’ Jury said.
“By restoring cultural and social functions in an area affected by economic hardship, it contributes to regional regeneration through heritage,” the Jury concluded.
Contact: Dorian Proudfoot | Donald Insall Associates | architects@insall-architects.co.uk | www.donaldinsallassociates.co.uk