Preserving the character of one of Peterborough’s most historic villages
If you own a period property in Castor, you already know you live somewhere special. Nestled approximately five miles west of Peterborough city centre, this historic village has been continuously occupied since at least Roman times and boasts a rich heritage that few other villages in Cambridgeshire can match.
But with that heritage comes responsibility—especially when it comes to your windows.
Why Castor is Different
Castor isn’t just any village. The Castor Conservation Area was designated in August 1969 and covers the historic core of the settlement. Within the village, there are 43 listed buildings, including one Grade I building (the Church of St Kyneburgha), two Grade II* buildings (Durobrivae House and Castor House), and forty Grade II buildings. That means 12.5% of all buildings in Castor are listed—a remarkable figure that speaks to the village’s exceptional historic character.
Whether your home is a Grade II listed stone cottage, an early 18th-century house on Peterborough Road, or simply sits within the conservation area, your sash windows are part of what makes Castor so special. And they need to be treated that way.
The Conservation Area Rules You Need to Know
If your property is in the Castor Conservation Area—or worse, is listed—you can’t just replace your windows with any modern alternative. The rules are strict for good reason.
Here is what the authorities look for:
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Repair is always preferred over replacement. Peterborough City Council’s conservation officers consistently recommend that timber framed vertical sliding sash windows be repaired wherever possible. If they are replaced, the new windows must be painted timber with black or white spacer bars (not shiny metallic spacers) and no externally visible trickle vents.
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UPVC is generally a no-go. Planning applications to replace original timber sash windows with UPVC are frequently refused or heavily scrutinised. In conservation areas and Article 4 Direction areas, the preference is for the retention, reinstatement and repair of original features.
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Replacement requires permission. When replacing windows or doors in a conservation area, you typically need to apply for planning permission unless the new windows are very similar to the original. For listed buildings, listed building consent is almost always required.
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Details matter. Even the position of the window in its reveal—how far it sits back from the wall—is considered important. Conservation officers look at glazing bars, spacer bars, and whether the windows feature genuine sliding sashes rather than tilt-and-turn mechanisms.
Common Sash Window Problems in Castor Homes
Period properties in Castor face a unique set of challenges. The locally quarried stone and traditional construction methods mean that windows are often exposed to the elements in ways modern homes aren’t.
Here are the most common issues we see:
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Broken sash cords. The ropes or chains that counterbalance the sash weight eventually wear out, making windows difficult or impossible to open.
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Rotted timber. Especially at the bottom of the frame where water collects. This is particularly common in older softwood windows.
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Draughts and heat loss. Many original sash windows in Castor were never designed with draught proofing in mind. The result? Cold rooms and higher heating bills.
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Sticking or jamming. Paint build-up, warped timber, or settling foundations can all cause sash windows to stick.
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Condensation and misting. Single-glazed period windows are prone to condensation, which can accelerate timber decay if not managed.
The NJS Approach: Restoration Over Replacement
At NJS Sash Windows, we believe in restoration first. Where possible, we repair and restore original timber sash windows rather than ripping them out and starting again.
Why? Because original windows are often made from slower-grown, harder timber than anything available today. They have survived for a century or more—with the right care, they can survive another.
Nick Smith is the founder of NJS Sash Windows and has been featured as a home improvement and restoration expert in House Beautiful and Country Living.
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