The architectural style of the 18th and 19th centuries is closely associated with sash windows. Their large panels of glass within gracefully proportioned frames offered an attractive and functional alternative to casement windows.
Despite much debate, the sash window is now thought to have originated in Yorkshire, England. They were developed there to keep out wet weather while permitting air to circulate by leaving a narrow opening, and were also protected from rot and distortion by being closed in a box.
Sash windows were a huge improvement over their predecessors, both aesthetically and practically, and were incorporated into older homes as well as being favored for new buildings. 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 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 Victorians continued to favor sash windows, but added their own style with elaborate carved and molded ornamentation. Gradated windows, diminishing in size with the height of the building, and large bay windows are characteristic of this period. Four paned sashes are more common in houses built at this time. 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.
Sash windows have become far less common during the last century, despite being the favorite style at the beginning of the 20th century, due to the increase in cheap, mass-produced styles of window. 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.