Sash & Case Windows in New Town

Edinburgh's New Town is one of the finest examples of Georgian urban planning anywhere in the world. Laid out from the 1760s onward, its grand streets — Princes Street, George Street, Queen Street, Heriot Row, Moray Place, Ainslie Place — feature unified terraces of ashlar-faced townhouses with perfectly proportioned sash and case windows. These windows, with their twelve-over-twelve, six-over-six and later two-over-two astragal patterns, are absolutely fundamental to the New Town's character.

Working on New Town windows demands the highest standards of craftsmanship and conservation sensitivity. Many properties are Category A or B listed, and the council scrutinises every detail of proposed window work. We are intimately familiar with these requirements, having worked on properties throughout the New Town for many years. Our capabilities include replicating original astragal profiles using bespoke moulding cutters, sourcing hand-blown cylinder glass to match original crown glass, restoring original brass and iron sash furniture, and manufacturing complete replacement sashes that are indistinguishable from the originals.

The New Town's large windows — some drawing-room sashes exceed eight feet in height — present unique engineering challenges. Heavy counterweights, robust pulley mechanisms and precisely balanced cord systems are essential for smooth operation. When these systems fail, the massive sashes become immovable or dangerous. Our restoration process includes stripping out the existing mechanisms, refurbishing or replacing pulleys, recalculating weight balances for any glass changes, and fitting new waxed cords that provide decades of reliable service.