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. Many were later removed, however in order to avoid paying the window tax of the late 18th/early 19th centuries. The Georgian sash window took on the modern double sash form. 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..
The Victorians continued to favor sash windows, but added their own style with elaborate carved and molded ornamentation. Victorian houses often have large bay windows and elegantly proportioned facades with the windows getting gradually smaller as their height from the ground increases. Sashes with four panes of glass are another mark of the Victorian window. Imitations of older style windows were also popular towards the end of the 19th century, as the wealthy sought to differentiate themselves from the previously prized plate glass and narrow glazing bars that had became more affordable.
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. Demand has recently grown again due to increased awareness of architectural history. 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.
