My latest carpentry projects around Southampton
Yorkshire lights
A popular choice in late 19th and early 20th century buildings in the North of the UK, it is uncommon to see an example of the Yorkshire Light window in the South.
My understanding is that the design originated as the name suggests in and around Yorkshire. Openings for windows were often wider than their height due to dwellings in the North often being squat in comparison to dwellings further South. This no doubt was due to being exposed to the elements particularly on hill sides. A traditional sliding sash window requires height to be able to accommodate the weights and pully wheels to operate up and down.
This example required new shoes -the sliding windows run along Oak or metal runners fixed to the cill and housed in a rebate cut to the underside of the bottom rail, known as a plough groove . I also added draught brush seals set into carriers that eliminated draughts and reduced outside traffic noise.
In an edition of The Practical Woodworker dated 1929 it describes this style of window as being ‘very satisfactory in every sense’
I agree. They are a pleasure to operate pleasing to the eye and function without fuss. The customer had no idea of their rarity in the city of Southampton and was pleased with the end result. My only other experience of Yorkshire Lights in this part of the world would be a row of farm cottages that I worked on many years ago north of Winchester.
