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Sash windows are associated with the architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. They make practical and aesthetically pleasing alternatives to casements, with their large glass panels and graceful proportions.
After years of controversy, experts now believe they were originally invented in Yorkshire. Sash windows were designed to allow a small gap for ventilation without letting in the rain, and were also less prone to rotting and distortion due to their enclosure within a box.
There were both functional and aesthetic advantages to sash windows, and many people chose to replace their old windows with them, while they were also popular in newly built homes. The window tax of the 18th and 19th centuries caused many of these fashionable windows to be taken out again, however.During the Georgian era, sash windows became what they are today, with the development of the two moving sashes. Glass was still expensive and marked with central bull’s eyes by the manufacture process. As better methods of making large panes were found, windows with six panels in each sash appeared, becoming characteristic of the Georgian sash window. They became a key part of Regency architecture.
The popularity of these windows have remained strong during the Victorian age, but they were ornamented with elaborate decorations. Gradated windows, diminishing in size with the height of the building, and large bay windows are characteristic of this period. Four paned sashes are more common in houses built at this time. The wealthy often chose to have older styles of window added to their property to distinguish themselves from the increasingly common use of plate glass sash windows with the slimmer glazing bars that were once prized.
During the 20th century, sash windows have tended to disappear from our streets, being replaced by cheaper, mass-produced windows. Demand has recently grown again due to increased awareness of architectural history. Modern versions of the sash window preserve the traditional character of older properties, while combining all the latest developments in manufacturing processes with the grace and practicality that this style epitomizes.
