1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class IX.: T. H. P. Dennis
2105. DENNIS, T. H. P., Chelmsford, Essex.
Patent metallic horticultural building, or glazed structure.
PATENT METALLIC HORTICULTURAL BUILDINGS, manufactured by T. H. P. Dennis, horticultural builder and hot-water engineer, High Street, Chelmsford.
These buildings are constructed of iron, and by the introduction of malleable fittings, the several parts are brought together with such facility as to overcome the only obstacle hitherto existing to their universal adoption.
The cost of these structures will defy competition even by the perishable wooden houses, whilst in increased strength and durability, shadowless frames, and illimitable forms, their advantages are so obvious, that they cannot fail to secure the patronage of those who require the highest order of conservatory, or the useful and profitable forcing house. They are all correctly fitted previous to leaving the Works, and can be erected by an ordinary mechanic in a few hours (screws and bolts being entirely dispensed with), by which the undesirable lengthened presence of workmen is obviated. Their extreme portability is of no small advantage, and however long they may have been fixed, their removal and re-erection can be accomplished without injury to any of the framing. They can be transmitted as low-rated freight. Provision for their extension has been carefully studied, and can be accomplished without alteration to any existing structure.
Every front light can be made to open and swing upon the mullion of the house, and the roof ventilation has no limits.
The condensed water from the roof is carried outside the building, thereby preventing the decay which follows when it is allowed to accumulate upon the eaves plate.
Every one is now supposed to be aware that glazed iron roofs, judiciously arranged, have not the least tendency to break the glass, and for those who still have this erroneous impression, the patentee wishes to explain that the most evident causes of fracture arise either from the glazier extending the laps of the glass so far upon the preceding square, that in cold weather ice is formed to such an extent, from the quantity of moisture necessarily retained, as to break the glass by its expansion, or from the bars of which the roof is composed being so irregularly spaced that the glazier is often compelled to introduce the glass with the bars on either side pressing tight against it, thus causing fracture, whilst other panes necessarily fall short of the width, and certain leakage is the result. These well known evils have been successfully overcome by the application of distance pieces between the bars, by which each glass-space is rendered equidistant from top to bottom and throughout any extent of surface, ensuring a water-tight and perfect roof.
Several of the parts are arranged so that iron roofs can be applied to wooden structures when preferred.
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