{"id":1345,"date":"2016-07-15T14:50:43","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T13:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.www.unicornwindows.co.uk\/?p=1345"},"modified":"2016-07-15T14:50:43","modified_gmt":"2016-07-15T13:50:43","slug":"britains-finest-conservatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unicornwindows.co.uk\/britains-finest-conservatory\/","title":{"rendered":"Britain’s finest conservatory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whilst we have looked at some of today\u2019s finest European conservatories and orangeries<\/a>, let\u2019s delve into the history books to take a look at one of England\u2019s finest. Although this magnificent building was demolished in 1920, it still manages to retain the name: ‘The Great Conservatory<\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

Joseph Paxton, who later went on to achieve notoriety for designing Crystal Palace, was given the task of designing a hothouse for the 6th Duke of Devonshire\u2019s true passion, tropical plants. His innovations in the use of large span glasshouses became the forerunner of all greenhouses and conservatories and his work on the building for the Dukes certainly set the bar high.<\/p>\n

The plans<\/h3>\n

At the tender age of 23, Joseph Paxton impressed the Duke so much that he employed him as head gardener at his country residence Chatsworth House in 1826. This was during an era when tropical plants from exotic regions were being introduced into the upper class households and to survive, these plants required hothouses. It was in 1837 that Paxton, along with Architect Decimus Burton (the designer of Kew gardens\u2019 famous Palm House<\/a>) began designing the Great Conservatory for Chatsworth House.<\/p>\n

The design<\/h3>\n

The conservatory was 84m long and 37m wide. This vast impression was 84m long, 37m wide and 19m high and was to be the largest glass building in England. Amazingly the interior housed:<\/p>\n