Over the last couple of years “Orangeries” have become increasingly popular and lots of window/conservatory companies have come up with their own take on this classic style of garden building.
Some companies do a normal conservatory but box out the roof to give the bulk head detail on the inside and others do the full parapet wall with flat GRP roof and lantern type roof sat on top.
Whatever your understanding of the word Orangery we have a solution for you !
On our self build Orangery we use a second eaves on the roof and supply all the timber frames and plasterboard for the bulk head in kit form and numbered up for ease of installation.
Contact us if you require further information on Orangeries
Orangeries are much more involved on the installation side and the building work side of things. We would recommend a fairly experienced installer for this style of conservatory..based in the Preston area, we can of course assist.
If you are willing to put in the hard work of managing the project on something as grand as an orangery then the end results can be stunning and the cost savings on this style can be enormous due to the perceived value of and orangery within the conservatory market.
Orangeries are both traditional and contemporary, falling somewhere between conservatory and traditional extension styles. With their brick pillars, orangeries offer more privacy than conservatory styles and the interior height provides a breathtaking focal point through which light floods in to your home. Your orangery will also offer a seamless link between your home and garden.
Here’s a potted history of the Orangery
The orangery has its modern roots in 17th century Holland, when relations between the Dutch and the British were good. The concept, though, may be much older. There are records of buildings similar to orangeries in 14th-century France, and the Romans had built glorified greenhouses many years before that.
The word ‘orangery’ comes from the 16th century, when European aristocrats collected citrus trees. Initially, these orangeries (as the collection of trees was known) stayed in the gardens. But with the introduction of plant pots, they could be brought indoors into special rooms perfect for cultivating citrus trees in cooler climates.
The earliest known orangery dates from the late 16th century. It was built for the Surrey garden of Sir Francis Carew, whose friends brought back orange seeds from their trips abroad.
Orangeries really took off in the 17th century, when orange trees began to be imported from Southern Italy. These plants wouldn’t live through a British winter, so gardeners had to find a way to protect them.
The result was the first orangeries, constructed with south-facing windows to make the most of the sparse sunlight. In these orangeries, plants grew in pots so they could be transported outdoors in summer. For extra protection from the British winter, the orangery roof was filled with straw for insulation and the orangery’s shutters would close at night.
By the early 19th century, some orangeries had underfloor heating, but their popularity was on the wane. Orangeries needed large, south-facing gardens, which meant they weren’t always attached to the house, unlike conservatory styles. A further boost for conservatories was the abolition of window tax in 1845.
Today’s orangeries, like conservatory styles, are generally buildings with glazed sides and brick or wood supports. Orangeries use less glass than modern conservatory styles.
