Georgian windows, built between 1714 and 1830, are some of the most elegant in Britain: tall, perfectly proportioned sash windows divided into small panes by very fine glazing bars.
Features of Georgian sash windows
- Small panes. Six-over-six is the classic arrangement, with eight-over-eight or nine-over-nine on larger windows. Glass could only be made in small pieces at the time.
- Thin glazing bars. Bars got slimmer and more refined through the period, from chunky early bars to very delicate late Georgian ones.
- No horns. Sash horns came later, with heavier Victorian glass. A Georgian sash with horns has usually been altered or replaced.
- Proportions. Windows are generally tall rectangles, and the tallest are on the main first floor (the piano nobile), getting shorter on the floors above.
- Set back in the wall. In London, building acts of 1709 and 1774 required window frames to be set back from the face of the wall to reduce fire risk, so later Georgian frames sit in a deep reveal with most of the box hidden.
Old glass
Many Georgian windows still have crown glass or early cylinder glass, with a slight ripple and tiny bubbles. It is irreplaceable, so keep it wherever possible. A good specialist will remove and refit old panes carefully during repairs. Restoration glass is available to replace broken panes with a similar look.
Repair first
Georgian windows are often in listed buildings or conservation areas, and councils expect them to be repaired rather than replaced. The timber is usually good-quality, slow-grown pine that outlasts modern softwood if it is maintained. Typical work includes:
- new cords and rebalancing
- splicing in new timber where the bottom rails or sills have rotted
- easing, reputtying and repainting
- discreet draught-proofing
See our sash window repair guide for what’s involved and what it costs.
Upgrading Georgian windows
Thin glazing bars cannot take standard double-glazed units. The usual options are:
- Secondary glazing inside the window, which is reversible and generally acceptable on listed buildings.
- Vacuum or slim double glazing in the existing sashes. It is only a few millimetres thick, but check with your conservation officer first.
- Shutters, which many Georgian houses originally had and which make a big difference on winter nights.
Historic England’s 2024 advice says secondary glazing and slim or vacuum glazing in historic frames are generally acceptable, provided the original glazing bars are kept.
