Soropa Blog

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.

After years of controversy, experts now believe they were originally invented in Yorkshire. 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 window with two movable sashes was developed during the Georgian era. Blown glass with bull’s eye markings were the most common form, but still expensive. 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 became a key part of Regency architecture.

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. Four paned sashes often indicate a Victorian style. 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. Recently people have begun to take an interest in the historic character of their homes, resulting in greater demand for traditional style sash windows. 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.