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Sash windows are an integral component of 18th and 19th century style. Their large panels of glass within gracefully proportioned frames offered an attractive and functional alternative to casement windows.
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 remained expensive and was marked with large bull’s eye patterns in the center of each pane due to the way it was made. Once larger panels became available the classic six-paned Georgian windows appeared. They are considered characteristic of the Regency style.
The Victorians continued to favor sash windows, but added their own style with elaborate carved and molded ornamentation. 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. 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.
Sash windows have become far less common during the last century, despite being the favorite style at the beginning of the 20th century, due to the increase in cheap, mass-produced styles of window. Demand has recently grown again due to increased awareness of architectural history. These modern versions are produced with all the latest advances in technology, but retain the traditional style and elegance of older sashes, along with their functional design.
