WINDOWS ON BLACKHEATH, NSW

In the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath the original cottages are slowly disappearing. We are losing something special….beautiful old windows with  coloured glass panes or leadlights. Some are  very simple; an inexpensive way of adding a little elegance to a humble home.  Light is  the operative word of course. When  the rays of the sun hit the  small glass panes in the example below they glow like  jewels. They are at either end of a  classic, Aussie bullnose verandah. The decorative woodwork is another feature of the era.

Look at the more  subtle colours in the  next window. Once the leaves of the liquidamber come out this one will be obscured from view.

Here is another example. When the sunlight strikes it will come alive. The style  dates from what is known as the Federation Era in Australia, at the beginning of the 20th century.

Recently I photographed an old house in Govett’s Leap Road. It’s in a terrible state, and about to be demolished I suspect. Let’s hope someone rescues the windows.

A GROWING APPRECIATION

Once the windows entered my consciousness I began to notice just how many there are, and how much they add to the character of the village.

The following photo was not taken at Blackheath, but it’s a lovely image of  a similar style of cottage, taken in the 1940s.

Some home  owners deliberately  choose paint colours  to complement the windows;

It was surprising  to discover that the majority of this decorative glass was imported from England. Here is some information from  the website House Histories;

The sky blue colour in this ‘verandah window’ is really unusual.  And how perfect is that white picket fence? Not to mention the fame of autumn leaves.

This verandah window is a little more complex.

There are some more substantial, brick homes in the village. Here is one with  a simple  but  more sophisticated, Art Nouveau style  leadlight, in a bow window. The sinuous, floral motifs  are mirrored  in the foliage of the street trees .

The window below  has a similar design.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

Frosted, glass panelled front doors were common too. Sadly, there are not many left.

And now for  the finale. The leadlights in the  famous old guesthouse Glenella, in Govett’s Leap Road, are a sight to behold.

The font door is a little masterpiece.

The goddess of Blackheath?

Almost all of these photographs were taken in Wentworth Street and Govett’s Leap Road. There must be countless other examples around Blackheath….and in other Blue Mountains villages for that matter.

These days the trend is for vast expanses of clear glass and my own home  under construction in the village is no exception. I appreciate the natural light and as a passionate bird watcher an unobstructed view  will be wonderful. However, we do lose the cosy, more individual charm of old cottages. Perhaps I can find  place for at least one leadlight. A design featuring the native waratah flower  that grows around Blackheath would be perfect .

UPDATE – Since publishing this piece I have discovered that Blackheath has its own, highly respected stained glass artist. His name is Rod Marshall. Below is a  dining room window  Rod made for his wife, Osa. The design was inspired by their china collection.  Rod can be contacted at  rodmarshallstainedglass.com.au or via his website.