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Sash windows are an integral component of 18th and 19th century style. Their popularity stemmed from their larger panes of glass and more elegant proportions than casement windows.
Their origin has almost certainly been traced back to Yorkshire in England. They offered greater resistance to rot and distortion, while being able to keep out the weather and still allow fresh air in since they can be opened only slightly when it is raining.
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. The window tax of the 18th and 19th centuries caused many of these fashionable windows to be taken out again, however. 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 are considered characteristic of the Regency style.
The popularity of these windows have remained strong during the Victorian age, but they were ornamented with elaborate decorations. Victorian houses often have large bay windows and elegantly proportioned facades with the windows getting gradually smaller as their height from the ground increases. Sashes with four panes of glass are another mark of the Victorian window. Imitations of older style windows were also popular towards the end of the 19th century, as the wealthy sought to differentiate themselves from the previously prized plate glass and narrow glazing bars that had became more affordable.
Despite their popularity at the start of the 20th century, sash windows have become less common during the last hundred years, with cheaper, less labor intensive types of window being used instead. An interest in conserving historical styles of architecture has recently revived the demand for sash windows, however. Sash windows today use all the latest technology, but retain the elegance and functionality of traditional sashes, and preserve the historic style of the older houses.