The original definition of an Orangery was a warm and protected place where orange trees could be cultivated and protected. Orangeries have a fascinating history dating back some 2,000 years.
It is believed that one of the first greenhouses was built for the Roman Emperor Tiberius, who wished to grow cucumbers, even during the cool Italian winters.
When power and wealth moved further North in the late Middle Ages it activated greenhouses spreading throughout Europe, particularly with British and Dutch botanists who wished to grow tropical plants in our cooler climates.
It was the French who it seems had a passion for the new wonder fruit, ORANGES and they began setting up structures which they called Orangeries, to protect these trees from frost. This enabled the cultivation of citrus trees and plants to provide luxury items such as perfumes, liquors, special oils, jams and fruit preserves.
Many Orangeries were somewhat ornate, providing special places for banquets and theatrical productions or extravagant festivals.
David Fennings Conservatories and Sun Rooms are pleased to offer an exceedingly wide range of Orangery designs. With careful thought and experienced guidance we are able to design and build for you a truly magnificent ORANGERY which will be a uniquely created feature on your home for you to enjoy with your family or entertain friends.
Orangeries will generally have a glazed lantern feature, set into a flat roof which can be constructed of either a durable modern felt or code 4 lead. Although lead is very durable, modern felts offer a long term substantial guarantee. Lead is now very expensive indeed and the work involved to allow for expansion, plus other specialised skills necessary, further raise it’s costs.
The central feature is usually supported by laminated beams, which produce the uniquely attractive internal feature when you look up into the Orangery ceiling.
Side elevations offer the opportunity of more substantial corner posts than in conservatories. They can be timber with a fluted pattern, brick or possibly stone. Whilst some would consider they are an important additional feature for Orangery designs, it must also be considered that large pillars can provide some obstruction of the view into your garden.
You may wish to choose a window and door design matching that of the existing property for your Orangery side elevations. However, you may consider large glazed picture windows, producing the very best clear and uninterrupted view into your garden and the surrounding countryside.
Adjoining rooms are often opened up into the new Orangery. There may well be an existing window or door which needs to be removed and a new lintel introduced, all of which would fall within our Planning and Building Regulations service, together with Structural Calculations and SAP’s insulation ratings.
There are a number of ways in which the eaves position can be designed. Some may wish to choose an integral guttering system set within the Orangery or external guttering onto a decorative dentil moulding.
Whilst most Orangeries are usually constructed in Hardwood, we also offer Architectural Aluminium and a selected quality PVC system, all of which are avialable in over 1000 different colours, with PVC offering Oak, Cherry or Rosewood plus Dual Colour opportunities.
