A roof lantern is a raised, glazed structure set over an opening in a roof to bring daylight, and sometimes ventilation, into the space below. Unlike a flat rooflight, it stands proud of the roof, usually with upright glazed sides and a pitched or domed glazed top, and in historic buildings it may be square, rectangular, octagonal or circular.
Lanterns were used in Georgian and Regency houses to light stair halls, corridors and inner rooms that had no outside walls, and they became a characteristic feature of Victorian museums, galleries, billiard rooms, orangeries and conservatories. Many were finely made in timber or cast iron with ornate glazing bars, crestings and finials, and some were glazed with coloured or etched glass. Original examples suffer from leaks, rot and corrosion, so conservation often involves careful repair rather than wholesale replacement, particularly on listed buildings where consent is likely to be needed. Salvaged lantern tops and finials occasionally reach the architectural antiques market. In modern interiors, timber or aluminium roof lanterns are widely used on kitchen and garden-room extensions, drawing directly on these historic forms.
