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Victorian Conservatory

Conservatories appeared in England as early as the second half of the sixteenth century, when they were used to cultivate non-native plants, such as orange trees. These early conservatories were built of wood panels that were removed on warmer days to let in sunlight and warmth. During the colder months, heat was provided by coal-
burning stoves.

By the mid 1800s, brick began to replace wood, in part because it was less likely to catch fire. With the Industrial Revolution came improvements in the manufacture of glass and iron, and these became the materials of choice for Victorian conservatories. As the
materials changed, the design of conservatories did as well, becoming much grander and more ornate.

The most notable example of this was the conservatory built to house The Great Exhibit in 1851. Designed by Joseph Paxton, this huge structure was novel in that it consisted of great spans of glass that were glazed and that succeeded in protecting the interior of the building from the elements. Known as The Crystal Palace, it took
almost 4,000 tons of cast iron, over 900,000 square feet of glass and a massive amount of timber to construct.

However, The Crystal Palace was not intended to be permanent. Paxton’s unique design consisted of one basic unit which was essentially repeated over and over again. It was meant to be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily. It was taken down and
rebuilt as a winter garden after the Great Exhibit, and it endured for 85 years until fire claimed it.

The Crystal Palace increased the popularity of the conservatory. Before it was constructed, conservatories were built by the aristocracy for their personal use. The Crystal Palace, built during the Industrial Revolution when social consciousness was shifting towards elevating the masses, gave momentum to the idea that conservatories could be appreciated by the larger public. Many public conservatories were built during these years.

At the same time private conservatories became popular not just as greenhouses but as settings for tea parties and private rendezvous. While the original conservatories were built on the ground, these newer models had a floor, and sometimes even a second story, to accommodate the range of purposes they had come to fill.

Visitors to England today can see a splendid example of a Victorian conservatory. Kew Gardens, which houses several conservatories, is home to The Temperate House, the largest surviving conservatory from the Victorian era.