The Orangery at the Old Rectory in Redditch: A Hidden Gem
Updated: Oct 9
The Orangery at the Old Rectory is the glazed dining room of Old Rectory House, a Grade II listed former rectory built in 1812 in Ipsley, Redditch, Worcestershire. The orangery was added to the side of the original house and is used today as a restaurant and for weddings and celebrations, with daylight coming in through its windows and a roof light.
The house and its orangery
Old Rectory House is a Georgian building that now runs as a small hotel with nine bedrooms across the main house and the coach house. It was taken over by a local Redditch family in 2017 and modernised. The orangery sits against the side of the 1812 house rather than standing apart in the garden, which is how most orangery extensions are planned today.
A model for design integration
With its balanced proportions and generous glazing, the Redditch orangery brings in light while keeping a sense of enclosure. Its link to the surrounding grounds is something any hardwood orangery extension can achieve when carefully planned: the footprint, materials and proportions should suit the house and garden around it.
Visiting the Orangery at the Old Rectory
Old Rectory House is on Ipsley Lane in Ipsley, on the edge of Redditch. The orangery is open to diners as the hotel's restaurant and is hired for weddings and private events, so it is seen by booking a table or an event rather than by walking in.
Inspiration for today's homes
Homeowners looking to create their own light-filled room can take cues from this design. A well-planned orangery with a roof light gives the same sense of openness and connection to the garden, tailored to modern living. It sits alongside the grander famous orangeries in the UK as proof that an orangery need not be large to work.
Old Rectory House orangery questions, answered
How old is Old Rectory House in Redditch?
The house was built in 1812 and is Grade II listed. The orangery was added to the side of the original building.
What is the orangery used for?
It is the hotel's restaurant and a space for weddings and celebrations.
If a building like the Redditch orangery has you picturing an orangery of your own, talk to our design team about a bespoke hardwood design for your home.
