Timber Windows Hammersmith & Fulham

Hammersmith and Fulham is a borough of terraces. Street after street of them — Victorian mostly, running from Brackenbury Village in the north down through Brook Green, across to Sands End in the south, and along the river in Fulham. And Victorian terraces in London mean one thing for windows: bay sashes with angles that haven’t been 90° since about 1920.

Every frame we deliver to H&F is built from scratch to your our guide to measuring for replacement windowsments — engineered pine for most terraces, meranti or oak if you need hardwood. Factory-painted, shipped ready to install. You arrange the fitting.

LBHF (the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) manages a significant number of conservation areas — Brackenbury Village, Brook Green, Crabtree, Fulham Park Gardens, Moore Park, and several more. The housing stock is predominantly Victorian, built between 1860 and 1900, and it’s characterised by two things: sash windows and bay windows. Often both at once.

The borough council expects timber replacement windows in conservation areas. But even outside protected zones, the visual consistency of these Victorian terraces means timber is the practical choice. Replace one house’s windows with uPVC on a terrace of twenty, and it stands out immediately. The frame sections are different, the proportions change, the shadow lines vanish. It looks like a dental crown that doesn’t match the teeth either side.

This is the section that could save you thousands of pounds and weeks of frustration. H&F’s Victorian terraces are full of canted bay windows — the angled type, with a flat front and two sides set at roughly 135°. The word “roughly” is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

After 130+ years of London clay settlement, subsidence repairs, and the occasional German bomb, these bays aren’t geometrically perfect any more. The angles may have shifted. The reveals may not be parallel. The head height might vary 5-10mm across three openings that are supposed to be identical.

How to measure an H&F bay window correctly:

1. Measure each of the three openings independently. Width at top AND bottom. Height at left AND right.

2. Measure the actual angle between each side panel and the front panel. Use a digital angle finder — don’t assume 135°.

3. If any height measurement varies by more than 3mm across a single opening, send us the SMALLEST figure and note the variation.

4. Photograph the bay from the street. This helps us check proportions before manufacturing.

Or — and this is honestly what we’d recommend for any H&F bay window — ask your joiner to template the bay before you order. A template is a physical record of the exact dimensions and angles. It costs a bit more in joiner time but eliminates measurement risk entirely.

One more thing. The cill on a Victorian bay window often runs continuously across all three faces. If you’re replacing the cill as well as the windows, it needs to be templated as a single piece — not three separate sections. Get this wrong and you’ll have visible joints at the angles.

We’re supply-only — you arrange installation with your own joiner or builder. But there are things your joiner needs to know before you place your order with us, not after the windows arrive:

Reveal depth. Measure the depth of each window opening from the external wall face to where the frame will sit. H&F Victorian terraces typically have 100-115mm reveals. Send us this measurement — it determines which frame profile we manufacture.
Existing sub-frame condition. If there’s an existing timber sub-frame (common on Victorian properties), your joiner needs to decide: remove it and fit into the masonry reveal, or fit the new window inside the existing sub-frame? Each approach needs a different frame size from us.
Internal plaster line. Where does the internal plaster finish relative to the window frame? If your joiner is replastering around the new windows, the frame depth matters for achieving a clean internal finish.
Weight of double-glazed-glazed sashes. Our double-glazed sash windows are heavier than single-glazed originals. If your joiner is reusing the existing pulleys and weights on a cord-and-weight sash, they’ll need to check the weight calculation matches the new sash weight. Spring-balanced sashes avoid this issue entirely.

Pass these details to your joiner, discuss them, and then place your order with the right specifications confirmed. It’s a 20-minute conversation that prevents expensive problems.

Sash Windows for H&F Properties

Victorian terraces in Hammersmith and Fulham predominantly need two-over-two or one-over-one sash windows — the patterns common after 1860. We offer traditional cord-and-weight or spring-balanced mechanisms. Double glazing standard, with slim cavities that maintain the period sash proportions.

Flush Casement Windows

Relevant for the newer developments along Fulham riverside, some mews conversions, and rear extensions where period detailing isn’t required. Clean profile, modern locking.

Georgian Style Windows

Less common in H&F than in Kensington, but some earlier properties (particularly around the Hammersmith end) have Georgian-influenced multi-pane windows.

A typical Brackenbury Village or Sands End mid-terrace with 6-8 sash windows plus a bay: roughly £4,500–£7,500+VAT. Full Full pricing details here details here.

Worth knowing: our windows last 60+ years. uPVC lasts 20-25. Per year of service, timber costs less.

Assuming the bay window is symmetrical. On a Victorian terrace that’s settled for 130 years, it almost certainly isn’t. Measure each face individually — don’t assume the left side equals the right.
Ordering windows before a basement conversion is complete. H&F has a huge number of basement conversions happening. If your basement dig changes the ground floor level or affects the structural movement of the front wall, the window openings may shift. Wait until the structural work is finished before measuring.
Confusing Brackenbury and Sands End eras. Brackenbury Village is predominantly 1870s-1880s. Sands End is later — 1890s-1900s. The window proportions differ, particularly the glazing bar widths and meeting rail positions. Specify the period of YOUR property, not the general neighbourhood.
Forgetting the fanlight above the front door. Many H&F terraces have a glazed fanlight above the entrance. If you’re replacing windows, it makes sense to replace or refurbish the fanlight at the same time to match — but it’s a completely different specification from the sash windows. Measure it separately.

LBHF manages conservation areas across the borough. Brackenbury Village, Brook Green, Crabtree Estate, Fulham Park Gardens, and Moore Park are among the most significant. Each has its own character appraisal.

Check your property’s status on the LBHF planning portal. If you’re in a conservation area, timber is expected. If your property is listed, you’ll need Listed Building Consent — separate from planning permission.

For adjacent Kensington & Chelsea (different council, different requirements) or the broader London area, see our dedicated pages. Questions answered here. Energy efficiency details here.

Quote online — five minutes, real pricing, no follow-up calls.

How do I measure a bay window on an H&F Victorian terrace?

Measure each of the three openings independently — width at top and bottom, height at left and right. Measure the actual angle between panels with a digital angle finder (don’t assume 135°). For best results, ask your joiner to template the bay before ordering.

Does LBHF require timber windows in conservation areas?

In most of Hammersmith & Fulham’s conservation areas — including Brackenbury Village, Brook Green, and Fulham Park Gardens — replacement windows must be timber matching the originals. Check the LBHF planning portal for your specific property.

What should I budget for sash windows on an H&F Victorian terrace?

A typical mid-terrace with 6-8 sash windows plus a bay costs roughly £4,500-£7,500+VAT. Individual sash windows start from £449+VAT. Quote online — real numbers based on your dimensions, no follow-up sales calls.

What should I tell my joiner before ordering?

Your joiner needs to confirm: reveal depth, whether to remove or keep the existing sub-frame, internal plaster line position, and sash weight requirements if using cord-and-weight mechanisms. Discuss these before placing your order to ensure correct specifications.

Should I order windows before or after a basement conversion?

After. Basement conversions can cause structural movement that affects window opening dimensions. Wait until structural work is complete and any settlement has stabilised before measuring for new windows.