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August 24th, 2010The architectural style of the 18th and 19th centuries is closely associated with sash windows. Their large panels of glass within gracefully proportioned frames offered an attractive and functional alternative to casement windows.
Their origin has almost certainly been traced back to Yorkshire in 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. 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 better methods of making large panes were found, windows with six panels in each sash appeared, becoming characteristic of the Georgian sash window..
Sash windows continued to be popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, although carved and molded decorations were commonly added to them. 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. 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.
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. 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.











