In Tracing The Origins Of The Sash Window
The origins of the sash window are partly obscured by time, but this type of window is known to have emerged in England in the 1670′s and has remained popular ever since. Widely used in Georgian and Victorian architecture, these windows became popular in America during the Colonial period.
This style, a major innovation that differed greatly from earlier casement windows, is generally credited to a a major scientist and inventor, Robert Hooke. Hooke was an industrious man who coined the term ‘cell’ for the living units of biology he observed with a homemade microscope, discovered many principles of the law of gravity, designed some of London’s most historic buildings, and surveyed much of London after the Great Fire of 1666. He also studied the properties of glass and invented a balance spring which allowed for the watch to be created.
Those who understand the principles of a sash window will see that many of Hooke’s other studies may have contributed to his invention of a moving panel of glass that could slide up or down or sideways to open a room to the outside air. Encasing one or more sashes in a frame equipped with a weight and pulley system to keep the sash opened to a set height resulted in the attractive and convenient sash window.
One of the earliest known houses to install the innovative designs was the Ham house, an ancestral home updated in the 1670s by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale. This property has been owned by the National Trust since 1948 and used in many films.
Repairing these old windows is an option that many choose, since a handy homeowner with simple tools and a vast amount of patience can do the job. Others wish to retain as much of the original structure as possible when renovating an historic property. Replacement is an option as well, as many reproduction windows are manufactures out of traditional materials, and custom woodworking mills can make exact replicas of old designs.
The sash window has not been changed much over the years, although single glazing has often given way to double and even triple glazing for energy efficiency. Glazing is a term for a transparent panel in a wall; single means one thickness, while double and triple glazing simply fist more than one panel in a frame, with air spaces in between.
The origins of the sash window are fun to trace, as are the changes, not so much in design as in materials. Today’s windows may be made of soft or hard wood, metals such as aluminum and vinyl, and even fiberglass.
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