What is a stable window?
A stable window is a fairly small window of the kind traditionally used in farm stables, usually with an arched head and divided into small panes. The original stable windows were cast iron and were built straight into the brickwork. Later, concrete versions appeared, and today they are also made in aluminium and uPVC with double glazing. In Dutch it is called a stalraam.
Below the window there is often a sloping brick-on-edge sill (a rowlock course), so rainwater runs off the facade. Above the window, the brickwork usually follows the arch with a brick-on-edge course.
Where you find them
- In old farm stables, often in a row along the side wall.
- In converted farm buildings where the stable character is to be kept.
- In new rural-style buildings, barns and garden buildings as a design feature.
Application
- Keep or replace? On a listed farm building the original cast iron window is often of value. A replica with insulating glass is possible, but agree it with the heritage authority first.
- Tackle rust. Cast iron rusts mainly at the bottom and where it is set into the masonry. Expanding rust can crack the brickwork. Remove the rust, apply a rust-inhibiting primer and paint.
- Glazing. Old cast iron windows have single glass in narrow rebates; double glazing usually will not fit. Consider secondary glazing on the inside.
- In new work, choose an insulated stable window with a thermally broken aluminium or uPVC frame to avoid a cold bridge.
- Shed water. Make sure the sill or brick course falls clearly to the outside.
Common mistake: leaving a cast iron stable window in a habitable room without insulation or ventilation. Heavy condensation forms on the cold metal and soaks into the wall.
Related terms
- Farmhouse
- Brick-on-edge facing course
- Window frame
- Thermal bridge
- Listed building
- Secondary glazed windows
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