There was a time when a conservatory was a sure sign of prosperity. Historically, it has always been an addition to a home that only the rich could splurge on, and a status symbol that told the world that greater comfort and style were afforded by the owner. Though the sense of elegance and comfort has not changed, conservatories are no longer only within the reach of the wealthy. A growing range of excellently designed and aesthetically impressive versions of the extension has now made the conservatory affordable for people of any walk of life.

There are other ways to enhance a house, from upgrading its brickwork and adding of wooden, metal or pvc cladding, to the replacement of windows and roof tiles. Perhaps the fascia boards can be changed or the old metal gutters, which were cracked and faded, can been swapped for a newer, brighter version.

All of these methods, of course, chiefly have an aesthetic impact on the home, providing nothing more that a prettier version of what already exists. An extension adds one room at least, extra space that can provide greater comfort for a family and significantly greater value to the home overall, making a conservatory a bigger investment and a chance to change the whole lifestyle.

The history of the conservatory is long, stretching to the early years of the British Empire, when travelling botanists returned to England with samples of flora that required cultivation and study. In fact, that is where the name comes from, with the original purpose of the room being to conserve plants so that botanists could continue their work. The orangery, which also featured fruit, had already been developed from an earlier Italian version, with wood and stone used to retain the heat of the sun to help maintain high temperatures. Eventually, glass was discovered to be the best option in that regard.

By the early 19th century, when glass was more affordable and the British Empire was the biggest and most affluent on earth, the popularity of this kind of room rose to its peak. The earliest images of a conservatory are from the Georgian era, which ended in the 1830s, and was followed by the reign of Queen Victoria. This Victorian style of conservatory, with its distinctive circular end and decorative roof cladding, was used as green rooms by the wealthy, where guests could experience the freshness of nature while sitting indoors, thereby defeating the inclement weather.

These were made chiefly of cast iron, which was plentiful but still expensive at the time, while the sheer number of panes of glass added further to the cost. In fact, the wealthy competed with each other to construct the biggest and most intricate examples, many of which still stand today.

The most famous example of this type of structure was the building constructed for the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park 1851, and which was later called The Crystal Palace when moved to an alternative spot. It was destroyed by fire in 1936, but was considered a masterpiece in engineering at the time, and served as evidence of the power, industry and innovation of the British Empire.

The selection of options available today includes versions of those magnificent structures, such as the Victorian and Edwardian styles, while gable ended and more simple structures, known as a lean tos, are common also. From the 1960s, wood was the favoured frame material and it also served to reduce the price and create a wider market, but it was the arrival of upvc three decades ago that finally made the conservatory affordable to all.

Now, homes can be found in every area of the towns and countryside with this impressive extension on the side of the home, and while most use it to relax and dine in while enjoying the sun, as well as cultivate some household plants, they are also used for greater purposes, such as housing a swimming pool.

Modern conservatories, whether made with hardwood or upvc frames, still impress just as the earlier examples did. However, they now boast a range and versatility that the originals never could. With pvc cladding that can mimic the warmth of real wood, and gutters that blend perfectly in with the innate elegance of the structure, there is no loss of style. In fact, nothing is lost, but the severity of the price.