Hanbury Barclay's Conservatory

One of the three structural alterations that the tenant Hanbury Barclay made to the grounds of Middleton Hall in about 1875 was the conversion of the “handsome stone Orangery” into a “modern Conservatory”. These were the words of the tenant Egbert de Hamel just over 25 years later.

Hanbury’s Conservatory was constructed on top of the solid base of the 18th century Orangery in the Glade. It had a wooden frame and a cast iron roof. The entire structure was painted white. It was also fully glazed and the windows in the roof could open. The structure was built in three sections. There were two smaller side wings, with their own roofs, and a larger central section. The large section had a double doorway at both the north and south ends. This was a “modern” conservatory because it was constructed using what at that time were the latest revolutionary improved techniques for casted plate glass and light fine ironwork.

Conservatories and orangeries are very similar. The main difference between them is simply a technical distinction which requires a conservatory to have walls that are over 50% glass and a roof that is over 75% glass. Anything less than that is an orangery. Although the technology to construct conservatories is thought to have developed in about the 17th century, they were rarely erected in England until the 19th century. One of the main reasons for this was the glass tax, which had been introduced in 1746 and was repealed in 1845.

Although the technical reason for the construction of conservatories, as well as orangeries, was primarily as a structure to protect delicate plants, they both also became used as sites of entertainment. This use for entertainment purposes is what technically distinguishes a conservatory from a glasshouse. Photographs have survived from the time of the de Hamel tenancy which show the Conservatory at Middleton Hall being used for entertainment. In particular, there is one taken about 1905 of a performance of The Mikado in which the Conservatory was the stage and the audience were seated in the Glade.

Performance at the Conservatory in the Glade at Middleton Hall, c.1905.

Further Reading: Egbert de Hamel, Historic Notes on Middleton Hall, 1901.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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