The Palm House, Kew — the curator who never left the glasshouse

London · United Kingdom · Historic building

In the steam among the palms, Charlie Raffill is said to still be walking his rounds — the gardener who gave the house his whole life.

The Palm House at Kew, completed in 1848, is a vault of glass and wrought iron where the air is held tropically humid all year. Charles "Charlie" Raffill worked here for decades and rose to assistant curator; he was the man who knew every plant in the building. Staff and visitors have since reported a figure moving between the beds in the steam, always heading for the same part of the house, and gone by the time anyone rounds the corner. Kew has several such stories, but Raffill is the one with a name and a history. The tropical climate keeps visibility poor, sound muffled and outlines soft — which in turn means nobody ever quite manages to walk up and check.

FAQ

Where is The Palm House, Kew — the curator who never left the glasshouse located?

The Palm House, Kew — the curator who never left the glasshouse is in London, United Kingdom.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Diliff / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons