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.
Despite much debate, the sash window is now thought to have originated in Yorkshire, England. 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. 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. As techniques improved, larger panes became available and were used to create the characteristic Georgian windows, with narrow glazing bars and six panes in each sash. They are considered characteristic of the Regency style.
The popularity of these windows have remained strong during the Victorian age, but they were ornamented with elaborate decorations. 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. 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. 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.