original windows, mystery solved

[Wren]

It has been bugging me for a long time what windows were on our cottage before the current casement windows. I have found out that they looked like the picture below, except with four panes vertically instead of three, and the opening bit (bottom middle) would have been three panes high instead of 2 panes high.



(The original arrangement for our windows - 12 panes in total, is superficially similar to the 6 over 6 sash type arrangement but is nonetheless distinct in that a sash window has the fatter horizontal bar half-way up whereas this type of window has a vertical emphasis due to the shape of the opening section.)

Does anyone know what this type of window is called please?
Also our patched up casement windows are single glazed and very draughty (breezy would be a better description) so replacement with some well-made timber double glazed windows wouldn't be a crazy idea when we get round to affording it. With that in mind would it be possible or sensible to try to copy the original windows? Has anyone put new windows of this type in before - not sure I am convinced.

 

[biffvernon]

I don't think it has a special name so your description has to suffice. Quite an unusual, though not unique, design but particularly interesting that whoever replaced the window retained the basic idea of a small casement within the lower centre despite enlarging the size of panes. If you replace them it would be rather nice to have a third generation of the form.

 

[Penners]

Wren - the windows in your picture are very similar to the original ones that were in our last (C18th) house.

 

[biffvernon]

Nice. Small casements within larger windows are not so rare in old metal windows, both in Arts and Craft steel stuff and earlier cast iron frames with leaded lights.