The historical development of the sash window reaches back into the annals of history, right to the era of the sixteenth century. One of the first depictions of such a window can be seen in the 1658 painting called The Milkmaid, a work by renowned Dutch artist, Vermeer. Ham House sports the earliest example of sash windows dating from the same period.
Credit for the design is attributed to the renowned English architect, Robert Hooke. Some dispute this claim and believe that these stylish windows originated in France, their design reaching England via Holland where its rising popularity has identified it as part of the English heritage. Whatever the truth of the matter, the fact remains that they are elegant and stylish and improve the exterior of any home.
Originally known as Yorkshire Light windows, two double rows containing panes of glass were suspended in a frame. The windows became larger and heavier over the years as their design was modified, leading to the necessity of a rope, pulley and sash weight system being installed within the frame of the window itself.
Sir Christopher Wrens was the favoured designer of the royal family of the day and he was called upon to design many palaces. It is thought that his use of these windows in Hampton Court, Kensington Palace and Whitehall Palace was influential in the extreme popularity and wide use of sash windows throughout England at that time.
Naturally this trend was taken up by wealthy home owners who wanted to follow the popular fashions that were endorsed by the royal family at that time. Double hung sash windows developed during the Georgian era, allowing for these windows to be opened from both the top and the bottom. This was a remarkably clever design.
This was due to the fact that both panes could be adjusted, allowing a flow of cool air in through the bottom and heated air out through the top. This was a blessing during the hot summer months and allowed for fresh air to enter a room during the winter without rain coming in through the open window due to its innovative design. They lost popularity during the First World War.
This was due to the fact that these hand crafted architectural features were expensive to make, using expensive and heavy materials that were time and labour intensive to create. They were not suited to the industrialization process and with the strong focus now placed on the need for machinery and weaponry the charm and grace of these beautiful architectural features fell by the wayside.
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