The History of The Box Sash Window
Sliding windows have existed throughout Europe for Many years, dating back to the thirteenth century as very simple timber sliding shutters.
In the sixteenth century glazed sash windows started to appear, these windows sliding horizontally. Vertical glazed sash windows would not appear until the mid seventeenth century and it is believed they originated 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.
The first recorded glazed sliding sash window was installed for the Queen Mother who had just returned from France with a highly skilled French joiner who pushed for the complete renovation of Somerset house in London.
The precise history and development of sash windows is a bit vague although the most likely story of the balanced, weighted sash window was a British invention.
The original vertical sliding sash windows would have been very heavy with thick bars separating the tiny glass panels due to the fact that the glass was so thin, the window would have been a difficult window in its function.
Counter balancing was first used in doors. There is documented evidence of weights and ropes being fitted to doors in various parts of Whitehall. It was only a matter of time before this system was applied to windows.
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.
The number of panes slowly reduced as glass manufacture began to produce higher quality stronger glazing, but it wasn’t until the Government of the day stopped demanding window Tax duty in 1845, when the price of the glass dropped, that the panes became larger, with only two panes per sash.
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.
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