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Sash windows are associated with the architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Their popularity stemmed from their larger panes of glass and more elegant proportions than 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 window with two movable sashes was developed during the Georgian era. 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..
The popularity of these windows have remained strong during the Victorian age, but they were ornamented with elaborate decorations. Gradated windows, diminishing in size with the height of the building, and large bay windows are characteristic of this period. Four paned sashes often indicate a Victorian style. 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.
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. 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.
