There is evidence that sliding windows existed throughout Europe as early as the thirteenth century, although not much more than simple sliding timber 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 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.

A vertical sash window with glass and heavy thick glazing bars also known as Georgian bars to accommodate the very thin and delicate glass of the time, would have been a heavy beast of a window for the operator.

The counter balance was developed for use in doors originally but it did not take long for someone to apply the system to windows.

The sash window has never been patented nor has anybody throughout history has ever claimed to be its inventor.

Glass producers began to make glass that was more reliable and stronger and the British Government of the day stopped the taxation of glass, this all helped towards sash windows with large panes without bars.

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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