Croxteth Hall & Country Park was bequeathed to the City of Liverpool by Lord and Lady Sefton in 1977. The Victorian glasshouses fell into a state of disrepair and for safety reasons the public had to be excluded from them.

With the aid of a Lottery Fund grant a project for their refurbishment was initiated in 1998 and The Morton Partnership were appointed as architects and project managers. BCA Ltd were appointed for the design of the mechanical and electrical services.

Extensive survey and research work was undertaken to ensure that authentic Victorian cast iron pipework was retained on display in the glasshouses. Sadly, tests indicated that this was no longer suitable for re-use, so supplementary heating systems had to be provided.

The completed heating systems exhibit all the characteristics of the original Victorian heating, but are now served by gas-fired condensing boilers providing extremely high efficiencies and low running costs. The flow water temperature from the boilers is directly modulated according to the outside temperature. The work also included the survey and replacement of the underground gas distribution system on the estate.