Yorkshire on the slide

Timber windows have, of course, been around in the UK for centuries.

I mean of course the use of wood for the window frames themselves as for some periods in history glass was just too expensive an item to be affordable to put into a frame in order to give a view, allow light in and keep the inclement British climate out.

In the era of compact layouts for towns and villages, when it was possible to shake hands with a neighbour on the opposite side of the street from an upper floor window the design of an opening casement was of importance. It will never have been a more vital time to check on the wind direction and speed prior to emptying the chamber pot into the street below.

The sash window became widely used, although it's originator is not documented, in that its mode of opening did not risk it poking out and impacting on the streetscene nor as an impedance to a roof thatcher who would have required regular access to his work to dampen wayward sparks, carry out repairs if a fire had caused damage or just tidy up loose or defective areas.

The earliest type of sash frame is thought to have been one with a sliding horizontal action and although to be found throughout the British Isles it is best known as a Yorkshire Sliding Sash.

I came across some typical if very dilapidated examples just this week on a semi derelict former School House in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Hambleton Hills which lie just on the western edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.

The old place was built in or around 1841 but was last used as the village school in 1991.

The coursed stone. low slung building has survived reasonably well in its obsolescence and is now to be converted into a house for the benefit of a local resident.

Here are some pictures of the sash frames;

This is in the classic squared format with, in this case, a 12 paned arrangement. The frame is pretty stout and supports itself in the substantial stone wall which is around nineteen imperial inches in thickness. The moveable sash is the right hand one.

The appearance on first impression is not good but most of the damage is superficial and ironically to the modern paint finishes and not the mid Victorian era underlying wood. The advantage of the Yorkshire, which is still used today in sympathetic and sensitive renovations and refurbishments is that it can be left open for ventilation with little or no risk of the weather penetrating into the property.

This is a close up of the ironwork fittings by which the sash can be locked in the closed position. It is a fine piece of worked metal, pleasing to the touch.

The craftsmanship belies the stout and sturdy nature of the bracket and fastener.

Even after a long period of dereliction the window mechanism worked first time, smoothly and efficiently.

Of course there are disadvantages such as the very slim and fragile glass which performs very poorly in terms of the modern criteria of heat and noise insulation.

The inner cill and frame is again badly blistered mainly from the effects of water run off from condensation but with a little care and attention the original woodwork can be readily salvaged, restored and returned to full authentic status.