The conservatory story
What began in the grand houses of the aristocracy and those of merchants trading overseas has become a huge business as much an institution in the UK today as the barbecue is in Australia . Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, the need was to germinate seeds and grow cuttings brought back from exotic locations. The orangery and the conservatory were born, and the aristocratic owners would heat them to protect plants from the British winter.
Conservatories began to develop, as the manufacture of sheet glass improved. Good-quality glass is taken for granted today. Back in the mid-18th century, though, window glass was a thin, four-foot disc from which panes were cut. The disc’s centre would then be sold or thrown away.
Brick or stone were the early favoured materials, with wide glazed areas. A solid roof was also a feature. However, cast iron gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution and rolled glass became cheaper. Architects began designing structures with a high glass content, a trend that led to the building of the Crystal Palace exhibition centre.
This led to a glut of standardised conservatories in Victorian days. These became more and more ornate, catering for tea parties well into the Edwardian period.
Frost damage and rust had accounted for many of the original cast-iron conservatories by the end of the First World War. They also became popular with the lower classes and the aristocracy fell out with them. Conservatories also became less popular as central heating kicked in and people reacted against the winter cold of conservatories.
Then came the 1970s, and new techniques and materials, not least that of sealed double-glazing, made conservatories attractive again.
Today, the average buyer is in conservatory heaven, with a massive range of materials and styles to choose from. In any street, classic Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian designs sit side-by-side with more contemporary styles that suit today’s minimalist décor. Sealed-unit double-glazing has put paid to condensation, while low-emission glass offers great thermal efficiency.
Modern conservatories also offer a number of ripostes to the solar gain problem. Efficient ventilators, windows that open by a number of methods, and solar-reflecting blinds all play their part in combating global warming.
Although barely recognisable from the orangeries of our Victorian forebears, today’s conservatories still offer the same wonderful benefits: extra space, versatility and the ability to enjoy the garden all year round. |
