The Story of Box Sash Windows
Sliding windows have existed throughout Europe for Many years, dating back to the thirteenth century as very simple timber sliding 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.
When the nobility came to England (in asylum from the guillotine!) they brought with them new ideas and designs of the more sophisticated vertical sliding sash windows across the Channel.
Somerset house in London was renovated with the input of the Queen Mother who had just arrived back from France with a very skilled French Sash Window joiner. He created and fitted the first recorded sash window in Britain.
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.
As an updated re-make of the original vertical sliding window glazed with small squares of glass and very thick glazing bars due to the delicate and primitive glass available at the time would have made it a very heavy window to operate.
Doors of past had been counter balanced in a similar way of today’s sash windows, exactly who and when the system was applied to the sash window is unknown.
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.
As glass manufacturing advanced sash windows started to have less glazing bars but it was not until the King of England ended taxation based on how much glass you had in your windows that the glass in sash windows became larger.
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.
Want to find out more about sash windows in London , then visit the leading sash window repairs website on sash window restoration in the UK at www.sashwindowrepairs-london.co.uk.
categories: windows,joinery,restoration,property developement,history,casement windows,period window
Related posts:
- The Story of Box Sash Windows There is evidence that sliding windows existed throughout Europe as...
- The Story of Box Sash Windows There is evidence that sliding windows existed throughout Europe as...
- A brief History of Sash Windows Sliding windows have existed throughout Europe for Many years, dating...
- Sash Window Repair Services in London – Protecting Part Of History It is such a treat when I return to the...
- The Past Of Cleaning Windows In The United Kingdom The history of window cleaners in the UK began with...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a Reply