Who can resist the romance of a Victorian Orangery?
The white, glazed arches of the Orangery at Thornlee Manor in my Briargreen Village series stretch along the entire southern wall of the red brick manor house. It is a beautiful space and Maggie Thornlee has maintained its original style. She has used plants and furniture to divide it into usable eating and seating zones. Lara and Matt enjoyed the cozy, stylish blue and white seating area (below) in Summer at the Manor House.
The Victorian Orangery was a type of structure not seen before and only became popular in the 19th century. In this period, it was defined as a garden room extension to a building, designed to provide a place for growing citrus trees in cold or temperate climates.
When first built there were no glass windows and the glass roof was vaulted. But as time passed, and technology evolved, it was soon common for these buildings to have glazed roofs, which allowed for less heat loss in the winter.
The more elaborate Victorian style included ornate plasterwork ceilings, archways, painted walls, and elegant decorations. They brought light and the warmth of sunshine into the house and increased the living space.
Find the history of Orangeries at the UK National Trust here.
Find Orangeries in UK’s most famous gardens here.
