The Value of Historic Window Glass

This article reviews the nature of window glass employed in historic buildings in England over the past five centuries and presents new results on the nature of that glass. Chemical analysis of available samples has shown that window glassmaking technologies have changed over time. This provides information which can be used to identify the period of the manufacture of particular panes of glass. It is hoped that the use of chemical analysis to date historic window glass in this way will be used to enhance building conservation decisions.