Bespoke Accoya Timber Windows in Nesfield, near Ilkley

Recreating the character of original cottage windows with modern double glazing, traditional joinery skills and a genuinely bespoke solution.

When the owners of this period cottage in Nesfield, near Ilkley, decided to replace four of their existing timber windows, retaining the character of the originals was an important part of the brief.
The existing windows suited the traditional stone property beautifully, and the homeowners wanted replacements that would respect their original proportions and detailing while providing the benefits of modern double glazing. For three of the windows, this meant carefully reproducing the appearance of the existing joinery. The fourth, however, presented a rather more unusual challenge.

An unusual window requiring a bespoke approach

One of the original windows incorporated a distinctive hopper-style upper section, hinged at the bottom and opening inwards to provide ventilation while making good use of the limited space. The homeowners had previously approached another local window manufacturing company but had been advised that a like-for-like double-glazed version of this particular window could not be produced. They approached us to see whether we could provide a bespoke solution. This is where the difference between a standard window system and truly bespoke joinery becomes particularly important.

Combining modern manufacturing with traditional joinery skills 

Our workshop combines modern machinery and manufacturing methods with the traditional bench-joinery skills that remain at the heart of what we do.

Rather than being restricted to a standard range of window profiles or configurations, our experienced joiners can design, adapt and manufacture individual pieces of joinery specifically for a property. For the Nesfield cottage, the unusual inward-opening window was exactly the kind of detail our team is well equipped to reproduce. With highly experienced joiners and master craftsmen in our workshop, we have the traditional knowledge and practical skills required to recreate original features such as this while incorporating the benefits of modern materials and double glazing. This meant we could reproduce the distinctive inward-opening design as a new double-glazed Accoya timber window, retaining both the functionality and character of the original rather than replacing it with a more conventional window simply because it was easier to manufacture. It is this depth of experience, combined with the flexibility of manufacturing everything in our own workshop, that allows us to take on unusual details and one-off designs that don’t fit within a standard window system.

For us, that’s an important part of what bespoke should mean.

All four replacement windows were individually manufactured from Accoya in our Yorkshire workshop.
The proportions and traditional appearance of the existing windows were carefully reproduced so that the new joinery would sit comfortably within the period stone cottage rather than looking like an obvious modern replacement. Accoya was chosen as a high-performance modified timber particularly well suited to external joinery, combining excellent stability and durability with the ability to create the traditional profiles and detailing required for a property such as this. Each window incorporated modern double glazing while retaining an appearance sympathetic to the original joinery.

A traditional colour for a period cottage

The completed windows were factory finished using a Teknos coating colour-matched to Farrow & Ball ‘Ball Green’. The soft green works particularly well with the natural stonework and traditional character of the cottage, giving the new windows a finish that feels entirely at home in their surroundings. Once manufacture and finishing were complete, our team installed all four windows at the property in Nesfield.

Retaining character while improving performance

For us, one of the most satisfying aspects of this project is that the finished windows don’t need to announce themselves as replacements. They simply look as though they belong. The original proportions and character have been respected, while the homeowners now benefit from newly manufactured Accoya windows and modern double glazing. The unusual inward-opening window is perhaps the best demonstration of this approach. Rather than changing an original feature of the cottage to accommodate a standard product, we created the product to accommodate the cottage. It’s a small distinction, but an important one.

When standard isn’t the answer
Period properties frequently contain details that don’t conform to modern standard sizes or configurations — and those details are often part of what gives the building its individual character. Traditional joinery skills allow us to approach these projects differently. Alongside our modern workshop equipment, our bench joiners retain the craftsmanship and problem-solving skills required to manufacture one-off pieces, reproduce existing details and find solutions for unusual openings.

The Nesfield project is a lovely example of that combination: traditional craftsmanship, modern materials and performance, and joinery made specifically for the building.

Bespoke timber windows near Ilkley
From our workshop near Skipton, James Wilding Joinery designs, manufactures and installs bespoke timber windows for period and contemporary properties throughout Ilkley, Wharfedale, Skipton and the wider Yorkshire area. Our work ranges from traditional casement and sliding sash windows to heritage replacements and unusual one-off designs such as this project in Nesfield.

Project Summary

Location: Nesfield, near Ilkley, Wharfedale
Project: Replacement timber windows for a period stone cottage
Joinery: Four bespoke timber windows, including an inward-opening hopper-style window
Timber: Accoya
Glazing: Double glazing
Finish: Teknos factory-applied coating system, colour matched to Farrow & Ball Ball Green
Manufactured & installed by: James Wilding Joinery

If you’re considering replacing timber windows in a period property, particularly where retaining original proportions, detailing or an unusual feature is important, we would be delighted to discuss what’s possible.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your project.