The Bygone Collection is one of the most highly regarded timber alternative sash window ranges available in the UK. Designed specifically for period homes, heritage properties and conservation areas, it replicates the look and feel of traditional painted timber sash windows with a level of authenticity that sets it apart from standard uPVC sliding sash products.
If you own a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian home in Buckinghamshire and you are considering new sash windows, the Bygone Collection windows are worth understanding in detail. The range includes three distinct systems – Melody, Harmony and Symphony – each offering a different level of heritage detailing to suit a range of properties, planning contexts and budgets.
In this guide, we cover what the Bygone Collection is, what makes it different, which system is right for which type of home, and how it compares to other timber alternative options.
The Bygone Collection is a range of premium timber alternative sliding sash windows made in the UK. The collection is designed to replicate traditional box sash windows with exceptional accuracy – combining authentic period detailing with the performance, low maintenance and energy efficiency of modern uPVC.
What sets Bygone Collection windows apart from standard sash windows is the level of attention to detail that goes into each system. Key features across the range include:
The Bygone Collection is available exclusively through approved installers. At Burgess Windows and Doors, we are approved to supply and install all three systems in the range across Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas. You can find out more on our Bygone Collection sash windows page.
One of the most important things to understand about Bygone Collection windows is that the range is not a single product – it is a family of three systems, each designed to suit a different type of home, planning requirement and budget. Choosing the right one matters, and the differences between them are significant.
Bygone Melody is the entry-level system in the collection and offers a cost-effective route into the Bygone range without compromising on the core aesthetic. Melody features classic timber-look styling with clean, ovolo-shaped sashes that give a traditional character without the higher level of heritage detailing found in the upper systems.
Melody is a strong choice for:
Deep bottom rails and run-through horns are available on Melody for added authenticity, making it a more characterful product than its entry-level position in the range might suggest.
Bygone Harmony sits in the middle of the range and balances affordability with a more advanced level of heritage detailing. It includes mechanical joints, white gasket lines and woodgrain finishes that replicate the look of painted timber more convincingly than Melody.
Harmony is well suited to:
The mechanical joints on Harmony are one of its most important features. On standard uPVC windows, corners are welded – which produces a visible weld mark that looks nothing like timber joinery. Mechanical joints replicate the clean, square corner of a real timber frame, which makes a significant difference to the finished appearance.
Bygone Symphony is the flagship system in the collection and the most authentic timber alternative sash window available in the range. It features Timberweld butt-jointed construction, which provides a true timber-style joint – the most convincing replication of traditional sash window joinery available in a uPVC product.
Symphony is designed for the most demanding applications:
For homeowners who are serious about getting their sash windows absolutely right, Symphony is the system to consider. The Timberweld construction is a genuine technical innovation that produces a result closer to real timber than anything else available in the uPVC market.
Choosing between Melody, Harmony and Symphony comes down to three main factors: the character of your property, your planning situation and your budget. Here is a straightforward guide:
It is also worth noting that the three systems can be mixed across a property in some situations – for example, Symphony on the front elevation where windows are most visible from the street, and Harmony or Melody on less prominent rear elevations. Our team can advise on the best approach for your specific property.
One of the key advantages of Bygone Collection windows over original timber sash windows is performance. Traditional box sash windows – however beautiful – were not designed for modern energy efficiency standards. Draughts, single glazing and poorly fitting sashes are common problems on original windows.
Bygone Collection windows address all of these issues:
For homeowners who love the look of their original sash windows but are frustrated by their performance, Bygone Collection windows represent a genuine upgrade in comfort and energy efficiency without any loss of character.
One of the most important selling points of the Bygone Collection is its track record of approval in conservation areas and for heritage properties. All three systems have been designed with planning requirements in mind, and the range has been accepted by conservation officers across the UK on a wide range of projects.
In conservation areas, the expectation is that replacement windows should preserve or enhance the character of the area. For Victorian and Edwardian properties in particular, this means sash windows that closely replicate the proportions and detailing of the originals. The Bygone Collection – particularly Harmony and Symphony – is well placed to meet these requirements.
That said, every conservation area is different and every local planning authority has its own guidance. It is always worth checking what is expected before committing to a specification. The Planning Portal is a useful starting point, and our team can advise on what has been approved in similar situations across Buckinghamshire.
For listed buildings, the Symphony system is most commonly specified, given its Timberweld construction and the highest level of authenticity it offers. Listed Building Consent is required before replacing windows on a listed property, and the specification will need to be agreed with the local conservation officer.
Our blog on new windows for period homes in Buckinghamshire covers the planning process for period properties in more detail.
The Bygone Collection is not the only timber alternative window system available at Burgess. We also supply the Residence Collection and Evolution – both of which are casement and flush window systems rather than sash windows. Here is how they sit alongside Bygone:
All three systems are part of our timber alternative range. You can explore the full range on our timber alternative windows page.
At Burgess Windows and Doors, we are approved installers of the full Bygone Collection range – Melody, Harmony and Symphony – across Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas. As a family-run business with over 25 years of experience, we have fitted Bygone Collection windows on a wide range of properties, from Victorian terraces in market towns to country cottages in rural Buckinghamshire villages.
We take time to understand each property properly before making a recommendation. That means looking at the planning context, the original window detailing, the budget and what the homeowner is trying to achieve – and then advising on the system and specification that best meets all of those requirements.
All our installations are FENSA-registered and we handle all compliance documentation on your behalf. You can find out more about how we work on our About Us page.
The Bygone Collection windows are the standout choice for anyone replacing sash windows on a period home in Buckinghamshire. Whether you choose Melody for a cost-effective heritage result, Harmony for a more authentic conservation area specification, or Symphony for the most demanding listed building project, all three systems deliver the character of traditional timber sash windows with modern performance and zero maintenance.
If you are considering Bygone Collection windows for your home and would like some advice on which system is right for your property and planning situation, our team would be happy to help.
Get in touch via our Contact page, call us on 01280 815493, or visit our showroom in Buckingham to see the Bygone Collection in person.
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