On the streets of England, as early as the thirteenth century, there were eyes watchful for the “Yorkshire Slasher”. Well, actually it was the “Yorkshire Sash” and the eyes were very enthusiastic about its introduction. While some historians record the window system as the “Yorkshire Lights”, it makes far more sense to recognize the name “Sash” as a derivative of the French word “Chassis” meaning “Frame”. But the question of who invented the sash window remains a mystery.
These consisted of two panels that were essentially shutters sliding horizontally. While they bear little resemblance to the vertically moving windows that would be taken on and propagated by Christopher Wren, they were essentially sash windows.
The word “Sash” is believed to come from the French word “Chassis” which translates to mean “Frame”; the sash window then was defined as two frames that slid across one another. But this is almost the extent to which the French are given credit for the window. Until a short time ago, even the British, who made such proficient use of the system, conceded that the Dutch had the earliest evidence of the sash window. This was in a painting by the baroque artist, Jan or Johannes Vermeer, entitled “The Milkmaid” and it was produced in 1658.
However, in a piece of writing called “Vulgaria”, penned by W. Horman in 1589, he makes reference to “Glasen wyndowis let in … Lyght….. I have many … Wyndowes … Goynge up and down”. In essence it means that, by noting the glass windows that let light in and go up and down, Horman had dragged the invention of the sash window back at least another sixty-one years and across the channel. British builders could again claim that the aesthetically appealing window that graced so many facades was indeed British in origin.
It would also be denying an account written by W. Horman in 1589 in his work, “Vulgaria”, that describes, “Glasen wyndowis ….. Wyndowes shette with levys goynge up and down”. In a handyman’s translation, he refers to framed glass windows that go up and down. With this, Horman not only places a marker in the story of the sash, indicating its presence in Britain almost seventy years before “The Milkmaid”, but he also makes it clear that the horizontal sash window had appeared on the building facade.
He came in the form of Robert Hooke. A renowned scientist who, in any other time, could have stood alone as the greatest mind of his age, but for the presence and indeed rivalry of Isaac Newton. Newton bettered Hooke at last with his theory of gravity that explained why everything that goes up must come down.
While the person responsible for the first sliding sash window, somewhere in the thirteenth century may never be known, there is some consolation in knowing that Robert Hooke was the person who invented a significant part of the system. Ironically, Robert Hooke is often seen as gaining the consolation prize in his rivalry with Isaac Newton.
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