History of the Sash Window
Glass & Glazing
The most common form of glass throughout the Georgian period was Crown glass. This was made by blowing which left a central bull’s-eye. In 1838, sheet glass was introduced as a cheaper alternative to Plate-glass.
Plate-glass was generally too expensive and was confined to the upper end of the market and by the mid 1840’s, owners of older houses were beginning to remove glazing bars from windows to the principal facades. By the end of the 1850’s, the more expensive villas and terraced houses were built with plate-glass windows to front facades.
Glazing bars were still used in the less important elevations (basements, attics, unity etc )
The use of larger sheets of glass led to the introduction of horns on sash windows, which were basically a continuation of the style beyond the outer meeting-rail joint, providing a mortice-tenon joint (giving added strength to the meeting rails.)
Sash windows horns came with a variation of the ogee mouldings this was due mainly to the builders and the locality. Later in the 19th Century, builders often adopted their own in-house style, as may be seen in many late 19th Century developments
The most widely used design were four-paned sash windows. Sheet glass was common in Victorian Gothic villas and terraces, and by the 1870’s the four paned sash window design was the standard for cheaper terraced houses, although there were regional variations.
As a general rule, plate-glass was used only for the more important rooms. The use of glazing-bars, and the social hierarchy of glazing, depended on the builder and the area. In rural parts and poorer properties, glazing bars were employed throughout the period, as were casement windows.
In the late 19 century saw the revival of the Queen Anne style. This led to the return of glazing bars, which often imitated Queen Anne windows with Victorian modifications, such as sash windows horns. A popular design, particularly in the 1880’s and 1890’s, had glazing bars in the upper sash, with the lower sash a single pane or divided vertically into two.
A practice often seen in late Victorian and Edwardian villas was to run an elaborate moulded cornice or transom across the meeting rail. This was usually mounted on the box frame, with the sash operating behind it. Sometimes, however, the meeting rail itself had a miniature dental cornice.
By the turn of the Century, the sash was the most widely-used window.
Plate-glass was generally too expensive and was confined to the upper end of the market and by the mid 1840’s, owners of older houses were beginning to remove glazing bars from windows to the principal facades. By the end of the 1850’s, the more expensive villas and terraced houses were built with plate-glass windows to front facades.
Glazing bars were still used in the less important elevations (basements, attics, unity etc )
The use of larger sheets of glass led to the introduction of horns on sash windows, which were basically a continuation of the style beyond the outer meeting-rail joint, providing a mortice-tenon joint (giving added strength to the meeting rails.)
Sash windows horns came with a variation of the ogee mouldings this was due mainly to the builders and the locality. Later in the 19th Century, builders often adopted their own in-house style, as may be seen in many late 19th Century developments
The most widely used design were four-paned sash windows. Sheet glass was common in Victorian Gothic villas and terraces, and by the 1870’s the four paned sash window design was the standard for cheaper terraced houses, although there were regional variations.
As a general rule, plate-glass was used only for the more important rooms. The use of glazing-bars, and the social hierarchy of glazing, depended on the builder and the area. In rural parts and poorer properties, glazing bars were employed throughout the period, as were casement windows.
In the late 19 century saw the revival of the Queen Anne style. This led to the return of glazing bars, which often imitated Queen Anne windows with Victorian modifications, such as sash windows horns. A popular design, particularly in the 1880’s and 1890’s, had glazing bars in the upper sash, with the lower sash a single pane or divided vertically into two.
A practice often seen in late Victorian and Edwardian villas was to run an elaborate moulded cornice or transom across the meeting rail. This was usually mounted on the box frame, with the sash operating behind it. Sometimes, however, the meeting rail itself had a miniature dental cornice.
By the turn of the Century, the sash was the most widely-used window.
Early Development
Early in the 18th Century, what is thought of as the classic glazing pattern of the Georgian window was developed. This design, six panes over six panes, remained in use even after the advent of larger panes in the 19th Century, particularly in cheaper properties.
A method that was widely used well into the early 1700 was to make sash windows frame out of solid sections pegged together in the same way as casement windows were, with the style hollowed out to allow enough room for one sash weight on each side. Usually only the lower sash was made to operate on these early windows.
Another interesting mechanism, which can often be used as a useful dating guide, is the sash pulley itself, (the wheel which the cord passes over, and which is attached to the sash weight)
In early sash windows, depending on funds, the wheel was made of brass, oak or boxwood.
The wheel was set either with a pin directly into the frame, or into a separate wooden block, to facilitate removal and repair. The construction of the pulley case varied considerably and these early sash windows were often quite simple, compared with the exquisite joinery of the later Georgian period.
A method that was widely used well into the early 1700 was to make sash windows frame out of solid sections pegged together in the same way as casement windows were, with the style hollowed out to allow enough room for one sash weight on each side. Usually only the lower sash was made to operate on these early windows.
Another interesting mechanism, which can often be used as a useful dating guide, is the sash pulley itself, (the wheel which the cord passes over, and which is attached to the sash weight)
In early sash windows, depending on funds, the wheel was made of brass, oak or boxwood.
The wheel was set either with a pin directly into the frame, or into a separate wooden block, to facilitate removal and repair. The construction of the pulley case varied considerably and these early sash windows were often quite simple, compared with the exquisite joinery of the later Georgian period.
Later Improvements
As the 18th Century progressed, the construction of sash windows improved.
The most important development was that glazing bars became steadily thinner as the century progressed.
Later in the 18th Century, larger panes of glass became available and the extremely elegant glazing bars, that we admire so much today.
By the 1750’s sash pulleys in more expensive work were set into iron frames with a solid brass face-plate. The grooves in which the lower sash moved were not painted - a practice that went on to the 1830’s. It was a sensible idea, because the sashes would not jam or stick. In some areas the outer channel of the pulley style is still left unpainted.
The most important development was that glazing bars became steadily thinner as the century progressed.
Later in the 18th Century, larger panes of glass became available and the extremely elegant glazing bars, that we admire so much today.
By the 1750’s sash pulleys in more expensive work were set into iron frames with a solid brass face-plate. The grooves in which the lower sash moved were not painted - a practice that went on to the 1830’s. It was a sensible idea, because the sashes would not jam or stick. In some areas the outer channel of the pulley style is still left unpainted.
