The History of Shutters

The origins of shutters are thought to have come from ancient Greece. They were originally made from marble and were designed to control light, ventilation and offer protection. They were invented to protect the interior of homes in times of extreme heat, but could also be used to protect from the cold in winter and from thunderstorms. They could be closed or bolted shut, especially in the evenings. This was before glass had been invented and shutters were considered durable, long lasting and easy to maintain.

Over time shutters became more popular wider afield in the Mediterranean and within the rest of Europe. A significant development in the future of shutters was the use of wood. To begin with wooden shutters were simply solid wooden boards that could be open and shut. Eventually shutters with slats came into fruition, meaning they could be adjusted to let in the right amount of heat, light or ventilation. This would not have been possible with a material like marble, but with the lighter wooden alternative this soon became the norm. In England, the Georgians were the first to design homes that already had shutters installed when new. This idea was exported to America, in particular in the south and west. In Victorian times there was another important development with shutters. Previously shutters had always been on the inside of homes but this changed and exterior shutter became popular. The reason for this was the increase in production of wooden homes. Homes made from stone previously had deep windows meaning exterior shutters were not an option, as they could not be reached from the inside. With wooden homes this was not the case, meaning exterior shutter became very popular.

Eventually glass windows were invented. In the early days of glass, they were too expensive for most, meaning the upper class were the only ones able to afford glass windows. A common feature was for the top half of the window space to have a glass installed and the bottom half to have the traditional shutters. Eventually glass became cheaper and therefore more popular among the masses.

These days the use of shutters for practical reasons is rare. They are still widely used in some areas for decorative purposes though. Glass windows have taken over and almost all homes have them. Many still like the shutter look though, and use shutters (both interior and exterior) together with glass.

Andrew Marshall ©

Shutters