The Sash Window Throughout History
There is evidence that sliding windows existed throughout Europe as early as the thirteenth century, although not much more than simple sliding timber shutters.
It was not until around the sixteenth century that glazed sash windows came on to the scene, sliding side ways unlike today’s vertical sliding sash windows, that only actually started to appear mid seventeenth century in France.
French nobility escaping the guillotine in France arrived in England bringing with them the latest technology and designs of more advanced sash windows.
One of the first glazed sliding sash windows was created and fitted for Henrietta Maria, the Queen Mother, who returning from France with French joiners, encouraged the renovation of Somerset House in London.
The development of the sliding sash window is not very clear and numerous theories circulate. It is commonly believed that a weighted and balanced version was actually invented in England.
A vertical sash window with glass and heavy thick glazing bars also known as Georgian bars to accommodate the very thin and delicate glass of the time, would have been a heavy beast of a window for the operator.
The counter balance was developed for use in doors originally but it did not take long for someone to apply the system to windows.
At no point in history has any one person laid claim to the invention of the sash window nor has there ever been a patent applied for.
The number of panes slowly reduced as glass manufacture began to produce higher quality stronger glazing, but it wasn’t until the Government of the day stopped demanding window Tax duty in 1845, when the price of the glass dropped, that the panes became larger, with only two panes per sash.
During a period of British history the Crown cleverly started to tax citizens based on how many glass windows they had in their home and thus it was considered a sign of wealth to have one large pane of glass per window.
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