Educating Young Drivers: Sound Tips for Parents
The architectural style of the 18th and 19th centuries is closely associated with sash windows. Their popularity stemmed from their larger panes of glass and more elegant proportions than casement windows.
Their origin has almost certainly been traced back to Yorkshire in England. They offered greater resistance to rot and distortion, while being able to keep out the weather and still allow fresh air in since they can be opened only slightly when it is raining.
Sash windows offered both practical advantages and a more pleasing style than older window designs, and they were popular in both new buildings and as stylish replacements in existing 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. Blown glass with bull’s eye markings were the most common form, but still expensive. Once larger panels became available the classic six-paned Georgian windows appeared. 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. Gradated windows, diminishing in size with the height of the building, and large bay windows are characteristic of this period. 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. 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.











