Window Woman guides

Understanding Windows & Doors in Historic Homes

A plain-English guide for owners of listed buildings and homes in conservation areas.

The windows and doors of an old house are among its most important features. They set the rhythm of the façade, they tell you when the house was built and altered, and they are often the parts most at risk of being lost.

They're also the parts owners most often want to change. Windows rattle, doors stick, rooms feel cold, and the obvious answer seems to be replacement. In a listed building or conservation area that answer is rarely simple, and it isn't always the right one.

These guides explain what you have, how it works and what your options are, so you can talk confidently with joiners, architects and conservation officers.

Explore the guides

Historic window typesSashes, casements, the Yorkshire slider and moreAnatomy of a box sash windowEvery part named and explainedFlush vs storm-proof casementsThe detail that gives a replacement awayHow to date your windowsReading the history in the glassGlass options for listed buildingsHistoric glass, secondary and slimline glazingRepair or replace?Why repair usually comes firstHistoric external doorsPanelled and boarded doors, fanlights and ironmongeryListed Building Consent FAQStraight answers on consent, glazing and applications

Planning work on a listed home?

Ways I can helpRead the FAQ

These guides are general information for England and don't replace advice specific to your property or your local planning authority.