Witch Window

By Crusader1307

 An unusual architecture design seen primarily in America's New England States, The Witch Window is a squared window placed normally on a Gable (or 45-degree roof angle). A strange place for a window on any Home. Although not regularly seen in construction design today, these windows were very common in The Region starting in the 17th Century and well into the mid-20th Century. In Modern terms, these Witch Windows (or more appropriately a Dormer Window ), is designed to allow for ventilation into sub-Attics, which, due to the odd patterned roof construction allow for air to circulate to cool in Summer, with heat to do the same in Winter. However, there is a much more older and somewhat superstitious meaning.

In the 17th Century, Witches and Witchcraft was of a real concern to the rather hard-cored religious views of The Puritans and later Protestants. A traditional Window offered a Witch access to the inhabitants (to steal their young and apply all manner of curse). Rather than suffer through long periods at night without proper air circulation, The Witch Window was installed. With all other Windows closed, The Witch Window could remain open. How Simply put, all know that a Witch on her Broomstick cannot angle herself to enter any dwelling at a 45-degree position. Problem somewhat solved.

However later, the true purpose of The Witch Window was revealed. It was considered very bad luck to move a Coffin through the front door of your home (done when a Relative passed on). As was common during the Period, when one died, they lay in State within the Home. Hence, the Witch Window allowed for the hauling (via block and tackle) of a Casket up and into the home. This gave the Witch Window the additional title of Coffin Window .