Window = George = Greek

My town, George

was proclaimed by the Earl of Caledon, governor of the Cape Colony on St George's Day, 23 April 1811, and named after the reigning British monarch, King George III.   Adriaan Geysbertus van Kervel was appointed the first magistrate.   One of Van Kervel's first acts as magistrate was to dig a furrow to supply the first thirty six plots in George with water.    An 1819 map shows the original furrows and storage dam where they remain to this day in the Garden Route Botanical Gardens.    My house is right there.   If only they had supplied 40 plots...

The Georgian era is a period of British history from 1714 to 1830, during  the reigns of the kings George I, George II, George III and George IV  (with the sub-period of the Regency, defined by the Regency of George IV as Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III). 

The style of Georgian and Regency houses was based on that of classical Greek architecture. The proportions and dimensions were details based on the instructions used by ancient Greek and Roman architects. These were available in printed books, and easily available to all architects of the time.   This style of building was influenced by the Grand Tours,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMAgz7kpe2E but the houses were often necessary to keep the many antiques they had bought, and turned into large collections.

Classic Georgian Features

Georgian properties were light and very spacious, with large windows that showed off pale colour schemes and plenty of woodwork. Unlike the Victorians, the Georgians tended to go for a subtler, more sophisticated room.

Window shutters were extremely popular, and many front doors had a filigree fanlight with a canopy overhanging. The window openings were likely to be double-hung sash windows and chimneys would be found on both sides of the home. The doors often had a fanlight.

Tony and Sharon from the UK did the impossible with their Georgian house.   Take a look.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNoTsTcpUQ

When I bought my house, it was neglected but well lived in.

 Taking care of an old house whilst living on another continent is hard, practically impossible, without help.   So is dealing with builders.    Alterations or renovations cannot be done during a short holiday.    It has taken nearly 5 years, but at least the windows are taken care of.

In Afrikaans "house warming" is called "roof wetting".   You need wine.    Celebrating (not yet completed) renovations.

Like Tony (in the video), I didn't want to put in new windows and remove the old wood, rather just had it fixed to protect it from further decay.   

What a testament to the builders of yesteryear - according to a local sash window expert, my windows are still in perfect condition - original glass and pulleys intact!

Thank you, Greece!