Conservatories may be a common sight in UK today but this was not always the case. Like other types of structures, it came about as a solution to a problem and developed slowly over time. Modern conservatories owe their present form to the experiences from the past and the technologies of today. Let us take a brief look at how it all came about.
Origins
Historians believe that the earliest conservatories were built in the 17th century. This was a time of great exploration across the seas. Voyages to different continents led to several interesting discoveries including the presence of previously unknown flora and fauna. Sometimes scientists would bring back seeds and try to grow them back in England. Since these came from hotter climates, the plants would die if exposed to the cold. They began building enclosed spaces that could shield the growing plants from the cold while enabling them to receive as much light as possible. These were made mostly of stones with added glazing. Oranges were among the most popular plants.
Glass was difficult to make at the time. The cost was high, the technology was crude, and the tax was not helping. Only the nobility and scientific community had the means to build conservatories. It took another two hundred years for the structure to become a popular addition in many homes. The Industrial revolution helped to spread wealth around so more people could afford to build one. Better materials and designs became available. Gardening was also becoming fashionable. Many households had a conservatory built as an extension of the home. It was usually made into a greenhouse but it could also be turned into a sunroom for entertaining guests.
Gable End Conservatory
Gable End Conservatory
P Shaped Conservatory
P Shaped Conservatory
Decline and Resurgence
The momentum continued to grow until the beginning of the 20th century. The 2 world wars took their toll on the economy. All resources were diverted into the war effort including coal, labour, and materials. It took a while for the Conservatory to regain its prominence but it eventually did. The long period of peace allowed people to explore the good life. There are also far superior technologies that allow us to make larger sheets of glass and stronger supporting materials while spending relatively less than people did before.
Conservatory Styles
Modern conservatories consist of many styles. Among them are the Edwardian, Victorian, and Georgian styles which were inspired by the respective periods in British history. In an Edwardian conservatory, the glazed structure is often square or rectangular to maximize the existing floor space. It also features a sloping glass roof. In a Victorian conservatory, there is a bay front window that gives it a distinctive look. The pitched roof also has a steeper angle. In a Georgian conservatory, the structure is marked by simplicity with a flat front and rectangular layout. This provides lots of space for plants and furniture.
Roof options
Conservatory roofs are available in a range of materials, which allows you to choose the type of roof to match your requirements.
Glass conservatory roofs:
A popular choice is glass which can allow more light to enter your home and will add a touch of elegance. Various shapes and sizes are available to compliment the style of conservatory chosen. This type of roof can withstand the very worst of British weather including rain, snow, wind and the occasional ray of sunshine. With the advent of new glazing technology it is now possible to not only retain the sun’s natural warmth but also to reflecting both glare and UV rays.
Polycarbonate conservatory roofs:
A polycarbonate roof is manufactured in layers with a gap in between, using clear or tinted plastic This type of roof is both lightweight and is an excellent affordable roofing option. Modern polycarbonate roofs are built to withstand the unpredictable British weather. A tinted roof will help reduce heat gain and can also reflect glare and UV rays.
Tiled conservatory roofs:
By adding a tiled roof to your conservatory helps you to retain heat on cold days, as well as reducing the amount of glass that the sun’s rays pass through on hot days. Also known as ‘warm roofs’ because of the high thermal insulation that can be achieved.
Tiled conservatory roofs can come with a range of tiled finishes to match any type of home and they can also include skylights for letting in additional light.
We are a family run business based in the Midlands for over 25 years.
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
If you would like more detail regarding our Privacy & Cookie Policies you can find it here: https://www.amberwindows.co.uk/privacy-policy/
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
Additional Cookies
This website uses the following additional cookies:
1. Recycling Pop Up Form - A cookie to let us know if you have already seen and closed the pop-up for our recycling offer on the homepage. This simply means we won't show it to you again. Without this cookie the pop-up will show again on each visit to the page.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!