It‘s thought that Christopher Columbus first encountered pineapples in 1493 on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. One of his crew members described them as resembling a pinecone, but being twice the size and possessing delicious fruit, which led to their English name ‘pineapple’. When Columbus returned to Europe and showcased the fruit to the monarchy, it created an immediate sensation. Since pineapples were not indigenous to Europe, they became a luxury item reserved for royalty or the affluent. The earliest recorded pineapple in Great Britain was a ‘Queen Pine’ from Barbados in 1661.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, only the affluent and well-connected had access to these unusual and exotic fruits. The pineapple emerged as a symbol of wealth, status, and power. As maritime travel to far-reaching corners of the world became more prevalent, some wealthy travellers would place a pineapple atop their gatepost to signal to neighbours that they had returned and were open to receiving guests. The pineapple was embraced by artists, craftsmen, and architects, frequently appearing on gateposts, railings, interiors, and even as a centrepiece at dinner parties.
In Scotland, pineapples were first cultivated in 1731. By the mid-19th century, glasshouses heated by hot water pipes and pineapple hothouses (or pine stores) had become common in large estate gardens such as at the Pineapple.