The History of Conservatories

The stylish extensions that we build onto our homes today have a long history. They were popular right throughout the Renaissance and Victorian periods and can be traced right back to the Romans.

The Romans used the transparent rock called mica which closely resembles glass to form crude conservatories, and during Renaissance times timber sheds were built around delicate plants to protect them during the cold winter months.

During the Victorian era many exotic plant specimens were brought back to England from distant shores and hence the conservatory as we know it began to take shape to protect these plants allowing them to flourish in the cold English weather.

Conservatories became much more sophisticated with the introduction of temperature control devices and easier access to cheaper glass. It was in the early 1800's when these techniques really helped to establish the conservatory then known as 'orangeries'.

During the Victorian times technology led to easier methods of manufacturing lighter, stronger iron for the frames which enabled larger sheets of glass to be supported, and the popularity of conservatories started to rise. The Crystal Palace was built in London in 1851 and proved so popular that entrepreneurial builders started developing smaller scaled conservatories for middle-class homes - Conservatories were now no longer just for the rich.

And so conservatories have now developed into a wonderful sunny, climate controlled room, where you can sit, relax and enjoy your time and grow wonderful plants. Modern conservatories are now accessible to everyone, and there is always a design available to suit your home, lifestyle and budget.