Conservatories or successors to the Orangeries of the 17th century. The development of technology in the Industrial Revolution meant that greater swathes of glazing could be incorporated into the original Orangery design. Conservatories were built from a combination of glass and wood and later glass and iron. The delicate framing typical of Conservatories reached its pinnacle with the Crystal Palace of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and the spectacular iron and glass roofs which remain a feature of our city’s great railway stations to this day.

On a domestic level the installation of Conservatories remained the preserve of only the wealthy. Their country house states would include functional horticultural glass ouses within great walled kitchen gardens, and spectacular Conservatories for nurturing arre plants and exotic birds or butterflies. It was not until the early partt of the 20th century that the fashion came within reach of the middle class.

Conservatories could be selected from catalogues prepared by specialists who were tailoring their knowledge of building horticultural glass houses to meet the aspirations of dometsic properties. Once the height of Victorian invention and elegance, a great fashion was born and still continues today.

If there is one common theme which links most contempory Conservatories, it is that now they are almost exclusively built as home extensions. Clearly rare plants and exotic birds are welcome too, but you are more likely to find the family dog or cat relaxing on the heated floor, than to be hosing down the plants in their stages.

All our Conservatories at Hilltop are bespokely designed and tailored to your requirements and needs.