The history of glass windows is something that dates back further than you may expect. Although glass in its natural form has been around since the dawn of time, man-made glass appeared around 3500 B. C. In Mesopotamia. At this time glass was mainly used for decorative purposes and evolved into making vessels out of the substance.
The first actual use of glass for windows, certainly in Britain, can be found as far back as the 1st Century A. D. At this time the Romans used glass for windows, mosaics and to decorate pottery. The rise of the glass window came with the building or churches and places of worship. Many of the early fragments of glass windows are coloured, suggesting they were stained-glass windows from churches and monasteries.
Around the world, the need for glass windows (and the manufacture of the glass) did not really take hold until the 13th century. The Germans had found a way of making sheets of glass in the 11th century. This process was later perfected by the Venetians during the 13th century.
The French were responsible for creating Crown glass (hand blown glass that was flattened) and blown plate glass (hand blown glass that was grinded and polished) in the 14th century. Not keen on sharing their secrets, it was not until the 17th century that other countries in the world learned these techniques. Crown glass and blown plate glass became the two most popular types for glass windows from the 17th century until the 19th century.
After the demise of Crown glass and blown plate glass in the 19th century, sheet glass took over as the popular choice. This is the type of glass that was used in the majority of British windows, in particular the sash window. Sheet glass was quick to fall in popularity after the First World War and from 1959, float glass that had been invented by Sir Alistair Pilkington took over as first choice.
The history of glass windows is a fascinating story and is something that is destined to go on and on. Indeed, we have different types of glass being developed frequently, such as toughened glass and safety glass that are often used in many of the double glazing units found in modern homes. The development of glass windows is always evolving, with the newest form being Smart glass, which changes the light intensity of the window with just the flick of a button.
Urgently need to call in the assistance of window cleaners? Check out our online guide to top window cleaning service for the best inside skinny!