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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 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.
There were both functional and aesthetic advantages to sash windows, and many people chose to replace their old windows with them, while they were also popular in newly built homes. 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. Blown glass with bull’s eye markings were the most common form, but still expensive. As better methods of making large panes were found, windows with six panels in each sash appeared, becoming characteristic of the Georgian sash window. They are considered characteristic of the Regency style.
Sash windows continued to be popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, although carved and molded decorations were commonly added to them. 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. While the absence of glazing bars was originally a status symbol, many people put in windows that imitated older styles once sheet glass had become cheaper and more commonly used during the late 19th century.
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. Demand has recently grown again due to increased awareness of architectural history. 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.