A short history of sash windows

By Sash Windows

Posted on: 11th January 2022

It’s been said that the windows are the eyes of the house. Look closely at your sash windows and you may discover an important piece of architectural history. If you’ve ever wondered who invented sash windows or how they became to be such a popular feature in British homes, read on.

What are Sash Windows?

A sash window arrangement consists of several sliding panels known as sashes. They form a frame that holds the panes of glass together, and are themselves separated by an astragal bar. To open or close the window, you slide the sashes up or down.

Before sash windows existed, casement windows were the norm; they were side-hinged and opened outwards. Back in the mists of time, these would be relatively small windows fitted with leaded glass, and they were notoriously dark, draughty and chilly. Lead being a relatively soft material meant that it was difficult to incorporate large glass panes into the window architecture. What’s more, when the casement windows were fully open, they interfered with the overall look of the building.

The invention of Sash Windows

Sash windows came along in the 17^th century. No-one knows for sure but indications are that the concept was invented in Holland or France, from where it made its way to the British Isles. They quickly found favour with wealthy owners of mansions and grand country houses as they enhanced the appearance of the building instead of detracting from it. Sash windows swiftly established themselves as the cutting edge of window design. The earliest surviving examples of sash windows in the UK date back to the 1670s and can be seen at Ham House, now a National Trust property, in Richmond, Surrey.

Georgian sash windows

Georgian sash windows, including those of the Regency period, are characterised by having 6 panes over 6 panes that gives us the enduring appeal you can still find today. Georgian sash windows were designed with simplicity in mind. They were minimally decorated as only the lower sash was intended to be operational. In the early 1700s, a system of ropes, pulleys and weights became a standardised feature in sash window design. The pulley system meant that the weight of the sashes could be balanced and both the top and the bottom could be opened.

The Industrial Revolution during the Victorian era saw to it that the use of sash windows in Victorian houses became increasingly popular, and their design increasingly ornate. It was now possible to manufacturer larger glass panes, while advances in precision engineering enabled complex woodworking tasks to be achieved. Sculpted window furniture in grand design styles with engraved ornamentation became widespread. One of the most popular styles of sash window design was the Venetian arrangement, which consisted of a central sash with two lights to each side. Sometimes, only the central sash was openable, in other properties all three sashes were made to open.

Edwardian Sash Windows

Leading on from this, the Edwardian sash grew in size, leading into an era with the fashion of floor-to-ceiling windows in large widths, making them a large statement feature. During this period, it was commonplace for a multi-paned upper sash, often with horns and a single or double-paned lower sash. Sash horns were introduced in order to counteract the increased stress put on the joints of the sashes by using larger and heavier panes of glass. Up until 1850, horns were never used. Stained glass was also a rather popular feature during this time, which was often used in the upper sash.

Fast forward past two World Wars and today nearly three quarters of the UK’s original box sash windows have been lost, either as a consequence of modern window replacements or as a result of buildings being demolished. Sash windows not only became unfashionable in the post-war years but there were noticeably more costly to maintain compared to their UPVC counterparts.

Of course, it cannot be denied that timber sash windows require periodic maintenance to keep them in tiptop condition. Wood is a natural, organic material that expands and contracts, while UPVC plastic does not. Luckily, as the importance of architectural conservation is being recognised once again, and many 21^st century homeowners are keen to restore their period properties, original sash windows are receiving much needed attention.

Why we’re experts in Sash Windows

At Sash Window Experts, we are passionate about doing what we can to help preserve our British architectural heritage. With a team of highly skilled and dedicated craftsmen at our disposal, we carry out a wide range of services aimed at repairing, renovating and restoring these beautiful classic features of our homes.

If you would like to find out more about restoring your sash windows to their former glory, please get in touch with our team of artisans on 0800 197 0129 or send us a short enquiry via our contact page.

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Melanie Simpkin

Excellent work done by the whole team. Great customer service through the entire project. Thank you!

Megan Russell

We recently had all of our sash windows double glazed by Sash Window Experts and are very pleased with the whole process. Mark and his team were fantastic from start to finish. They were always on time, polite and incredibly considerate of being in our house. They did a fantastic job of replacing the old Victorian sashes with new double glazed units and we can't recommend them highly enough.

Geoff P-W

These guys fully deserve their 5 star status, the work that they do is exceptional. Having bought a new period property with windows that were in need of attention we contacted several companies, and chose Sash Window Experts on the basis of Mark’s original survey and quote. Mark showed his love for repair and restoration during the initial visit, and came up with options and solutions to look at windows and doors in our house. Work started on time, and was completed to a very high standard. Given the size of our project we had a variety of people on site at different times, all of whom were a pleasure to have around, and who have that same love for their craft that Mark has. A special shout out to John, who worked with us on a number of things, and always came up with a great solution. We’d highly recommend Sash Window Experts.

Robert Lawder

Mark, Lisa and their team - Steve, Matt, Ollie and Pete repaired 9 badly decayed sash windows on our Victorian house in a conservation area. The work was finished to high quality, beautifully done and beautifully painted. The team was careful and considerate throughout. They kept to time and came in slightly under the quote value, accounting for elements of the original frames that they were able to repair rather than replace. I would wholeheartedly recommend them for work in a heritage setting.

Simon Pugh

Sash Windows Experts did a fantastic job replacing our Victorian sashes. The quality of the work and the professionalism of the team was outstanding. Many thanks, Mark and the crew!

micaela hobbs

I cannot praise this company enough. Mark and the entire team, who renovated all the rotten, old and drafty sash windows in our small flat, have been amazing. Gary, Steve and Ollie were, without exception, professional, courteous, great craftsmen and clean and tidy. The quality of the windows, both from the workshop and on site renovations is excellent and the style exactly as the old windows once were. Communication was also easy. I can highly recommend this company. Thanks to all the team.

Tony Kendall

So glad we used Sash Window Experts for our job….replacing old window sashes for new double glazed ones. Gary and Steve are great craftsmen and lovely people. We would certainly use this company again, and highly recommend it to others.

Robert Hamberger

This is the second time we have used Sash Window Experts, and we went back to them for hardwood double-glazing of our second bay window because we were so pleased with how professionally they worked previously, and the excellent results. They were prompt and attentive as ever - real experts in their field. We're delighted with the standard of their work, and would highly recommend them. The windows look great. Update: We have now (May 2024) used Sash Window Experts for the third time for hardwood double-glazed sash windows for our kitchen and second bedroom, to complete window renovation in our flat. They're as professional as ever, prompt and efficient, clean up well after themselves and the work was completed to a high standard in two days, as they said. We continue to recommend sash Window Experts.

Michael Bennison

A very professional job, carried out to a high standard. No problems and courteous and pleasant craftsmen. "Did what it says on the tin" Mjb