A Look at the History of Conservatories
Traditionally, a conservatory has been a large glass and metal structure that is found in the garden area of a large house. Some of the most famous of these conservatories found in the UK include that which is found in Kew Gardens in southwest London, in Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, in the Syon House in west London and the numerous conservatories used in Cornwall. Today, however, conservatoires are not found in just the biggest and richest homes. In fact, smaller bespoke conservatories are becoming more and more commonplace throughout the country.
Conserving Plants and Flowers in Conservatories
Conservatories were originally created primarily for growing plants, particularly those of rare varieties. In addition, the conservatories of the 19th century sometimes contained live birds as well as rare animals, with the animals and the birds sometimes living together within the same conservatory.
Many cities throughout the UK and Europe had also created large municipal conservatories in order to create displays of tropical flowers. These conservatories were quite popular with the public during the 19th century and, by the end of the century, were commonly used for social gatherings such as tea parties. Today, municipal conservatories are still enjoyed by the public, but many people are choosing to add their own conservatories to their homes. While some of these conservatories hold true to the Victorian glasshouse style of the 19th century, more modern designs and styles have also become popular among homeowners.
Additional Uses for Conservatories
While the conservatories added onto homes are often still used for plants and flowers, many homeowners use their conservatories in a number of additional ways. For example, many use their conservatories as an extra room in their home, which may serve as recreational room, an exercise room, a home office or a sitting area. In fact, many people throughout the UK choose to install a conservatory simply because they want to be able to enjoy the outdoors in a climate controlled environment that does not include dealing with pesky insects, rain, wind, humidity or overbearing heat. With the glass walls and the glass ceilings that some conservatories have, it is possible to take in the beauty of the outdoors throughout the year and at any time of the day or night.
Conservatories have enjoyed a long and prosperous history. Thankfully, as materials have become more available and the process for manufacturing conservatories has become more simplified, it is now possible for nearly anyone to enjoy the beauty and function of a conservatory at home.