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Sash windows are an integral component of 18th and 19th century style. They make practical and aesthetically pleasing alternatives to casements, with their large glass panels and graceful proportions.
Despite much debate, the sash window is now thought to have originated in Yorkshire, England. They were developed there to keep out wet weather while permitting air to circulate by leaving a narrow opening, and were also protected from rot and distortion by being closed in 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. Once larger panels became available the classic six-paned Georgian windows appeared. 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. Sash windows that are gradated in size, becoming smaller at the top of the building are indicative of the style of this time, as are large bay windows. Sashes with four panes of glass are another mark of the Victorian window. While the absence of glazing bars was originally a status symbol, many people put in windows that imitated older styles once sheet glass had become cheaper and more commonly used during the late 19th century.
Despite their popularity at the start of the 20th century, sash windows have become less common during the last hundred years, with cheaper, less labor intensive types of window being used instead. An interest in conserving historical styles of architecture has recently revived the demand for sash windows, however. Sash windows today use all the latest technology, but retain the elegance and functionality of traditional sashes, and preserve the historic style of the older houses.
