Although conservatories might seem like simple glass structures, their fascinating history is anything but plain. From their humble beginnings as a place to store food and grow plants to the luxurious, ultra-modern constructions you’ll find today, it’s been quite a journey.
So let’s take a little trip through time for a brief history lesson on conservatories.
16th Century
Conservatories are quite often very on-trend, modern-looking constructions, so you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re a pretty recent invention. However, perhaps surprisingly, conservatories actually have a rich history that stretches all the way back to the 16th century, making them much older than most people realise.
Invented by botanical fanatics desperate to protect their prized plants and citrus trees from the harsh European winters, conservatories started appearing in England, Italy and Holland around 500 years ago and it didn’t take long for their popularity to catch on.
Soon, conservatories would become a mainstay among the European aristocracy who used them to protect and grow the weird and wonderful exotic fruits they were now importing from far flung foreign lands.
Larger versions of conservatories were known as orangeries, which reflected their purpose as they were used to grow citrus fruits. These originated in Italy and quickly became popular across the continent throughout the 16th and 17th centuries..
18th Century
The purpose of conservatories and orangeries pretty much remained the same for the next 200 years, before they began to morph into a sort of status symbol among the British elite, who used them to showcase their impressive collection of plants.
It was during this time that industrial innovations and improvements in glassmaking allowed for much more complex designs, which took conservatories to the next level – a far cry from the rudimentary stone and glass constructions they started out as!
19th Century
Fast-forward a hundred years to 19th-century Victorian Britain and conservatories were now being used for an entirely different purpose altogether.
With the Victorians culturing their opulent, extravagant gardens and indulging in their wild social gatherings, long gone were the days when conservatories were used merely to grow plants – now they were the setting for tea parties, dinner parties and other social get-togethers.
20th Century – Today
No longer the preserve of the super wealthy, the 20th century saw conservatories become much more accessible to those on a regular income.
Likewise, their size and location also began to change. Previously, conservatories were often standalone buildings found on large estates, but as time went on these became smaller constructions that were pretty much always attached to homes, just like the ones most of us are familiar with today.
As technology has advanced, these days conservatories come with many modern features including self-cleaning glass, bi-folding doors and underfloor heating. Many of the more modern options on the market also employ cutting-edge technology for temperature control and ventilation, meaning you can sit back in complete relaxation – regardless of the conditions outside!
So that’s our brief history lesson on conservatories. As you can see, they have a long and storied past and have been bringing joy to the lives of families and botanists for centuries.