| Conservatories have become very popular in | | | | cast iron which was mass produced was too |
| suburban England over the past thirty years but | | | | weak for all parts of a conservatory but then |
| where did it all start? The Oxford English | | | | steel came along which was much more suited |
| dictionary defines a conservatory as a room with | | | | for building conservatories. |
| a glass roof and walls, attached to a house and | | | | However then during the first and second world |
| used as a sun lounge or a greenhouse. In todays | | | | wars the popularity of conservatories diminished |
| society what is generally referred to as a | | | | due to a lack of resources and the huge amount |
| conservatory is a structure which is attached to a | | | | of effort which was needed to upkeep them. |
| house. However this was not always the case | | | | However over the last 35-40 years there has |
| and modern conservatories come have evolved | | | | been a renaissance in the popularity of the |
| from glasshouses or greenhouses. | | | | conservatory and they certainly seem to be back |
| It is not actually known when conservatories first | | | | in vogue. |
| came in to use however records show us that | | | | This is probably due to the vast improvements in |
| they have been around since at least the 17th | | | | modern technology. Double glazing has meant that |
| century. However the conservatories which were | | | | conservatories can be kept much warmer and |
| around in the 17th century we would not | | | | the amount of heat lost is reduced drastically |
| necessarily recognise today as they were stone | | | | making them much cheaper to run and a space |
| structures with glazing in them more like a | | | | that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Double |
| modern orangery than a conservatory. They | | | | glazing also allows them to be much more secure |
| were a luxury only afforded by the rich and were | | | | the glass is much thicker and harder to break |
| used for growing exotic plants from Europe. | | | | either by the weather or vandals. |
| Explorers such as Christopher Columbus started | | | | UPVC technology has also made the maintenance |
| to bring back seeds and plants from their | | | | of conservatories much less time consuming. |
| expeditions and this helped to fuel the popularity | | | | Traditional wooden or metal constructed |
| of the conservatory as in order for these plants | | | | conservatories needed to be treated and looked |
| to grow in the European climates they needed to | | | | after on more or less a yearly basis. Whereas |
| be kept inside. | | | | UPVC conservatories are virtually maintenance |
| However conservatories remained a luxury of the | | | | free and only require a wipe with a damp cloth |
| wealthy until the late 19th century. Up until this | | | | every so often to keep them looking as good as |
| point there had been a tax on glass in England, | | | | new. Advancements in the way we heat our |
| the heavier the glass the higher the tax therefore | | | | homes such as under floor heating has also meant |
| panes of glass where thin and the large amounts | | | | it is now much cheaper to run a conservatory. |
| of glass needed for a conservatory would need | | | | Modern conservatories are no longer a luxury only |
| to be thicker in order to stand up to the English | | | | enjoyed by the very wealthy they are now |
| weather and would therefore be expensive. Also | | | | available to the masses. |
| until this point wrought iron was very expensive, | | | | |