Accoya sash windows for an Edwardian house

In a conservation area of Exeter, this Edwardian house built in 1905 is part of a street that has remained almost unchanged for more than a century. Its original bay windows let in draughts, making the house cold in winter and inefficient. The owners faced a dilemma: improving thermal comfort without altering the historic character of the building. The approved manufacturer Tony Birch Ltd, based in Devon, produced two near-perfect replicas of the bay windows in Accoya wood, thermally efficient, durable and easy to work. The new windows exceed modern building regulations while preserving the traditional appearance, a difficult feat since high-performance windows usually call for large timber sections. The gain in warmth in the two rooms was immediate. Photograph: Steve Haywood.