Tresco Abbey, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
This country house was built in 1834 for Augustus Smith, Lord Proprietor of the Scilly Isles. Considerable poverty was common on the islands before the arrival of the Smiths in 1834. Augustus Smith made education compulsory, built churches and other buildings and increased the prosperity of the islands. This was through the improvement of agriculture and commerce, principally the introduction of the flower industry. Augustus was succeeded by his nephew Thomas Algernon Dorrien Smith, who continued his work especially in the flower industry. They also created 30 hectares of tropical gardens here at Tresco Abbey. From 1850 until the late 19th century plants were also sent in from Kew Gardens. The planting of exotic plants continued into the early 20th century and was maintained throughout the rest of the century.
