To hear some individuals talk, one would almost think that the
double-hung window was a modern, American invention of artistic
atrociousness, and that the casement window was peculiarly English,
having the sole right to artistic merit. As a matter of fact, the
fashion in England for casement windows was an imported one from the
Continent, which never reached certain farm sections of England. In
fact, some years ago certain agricultural laborers refused to live
in cottages fitted with casement windows which had been built by a
district council. The Georgian revival, which had so much influence
upon our early Colonial work, and which is also very much alive to-day
in this country, brought into fashion again the traditional double-hung
window.
Of course there is much to be said against the artistic appearance of
the double-hung window as compared with the casement window, but when
all is said and done we still go on using more double-hung windows
than casement windows, for in the majority of cases they prove to
be more substantial in resisting the heavy winds and storms of our
climate. Every now and again we hear some prominent architect urging
the use of casement windows, and we can find plenty of manufacturers
of casement window hardware telling us to use them, and the makers
of steel casement sash drum in our ears the practical qualities of
steel sash, and one is led to wonder why they are not used more. But
traditions are stronger than advertisements.
_Doors_
There is an ancient English expression, “put t’ duur i’ t’ hoile” (put
the door in the hole), which comes down from the times when the door
was not fastened by hinges and did not swing into place, but had to be
lifted up and placed over the door opening. When the door was opened
it leaned against two stakes driven into the ground, or some similar
support. These old doors were very small, as compared with our modern
doors, and were probably made of light wattle, for we read in some old
rhymes of throwing doors and windows on the attacking enemy. Even when
solid-wood doors were used they were made of one piece of wood. Doors
made of a number of planks of wood fastened together by battens or
ledges were a later type. It was noticed that these sagged when hung
in position and cross bracing was found necessary. These old batten
or ledged doors were swung on pivots of wood which rested in sockets
bored into the lintel and the sill. These pivots were called harrs, and
later were made of iron. The evolution of the hinge idea from the harr
is shown in a series of drawings. For many years these great hinges
became a very decorative part of the door, and great care was taken
with their designing. Our modern butt is quite the opposite in its
characteristics, for instead of being a feature upon the face of the
door it is completely hidden, except the socket and pin.
[Illustration: Primitive Door