Double glazing in Hitchin needs a slightly lighter touch than in most commuter towns, because so much of the town is old and much of its centre is protected. Inspired Glazing fabricates aluminium windows and doors at its workshop in Fifield, near Windsor, supplies UPVC on the Selecta Advance 70 system and composite doors, and installs with its own fitters. We survey first, explain what will suit your house and its street, and only then quote.
Get a free, fixed-price quote in Hitchin
Made in our own Fifield workshop and fitted by our own team. Aluminium windows from £400, lead times from 10 days and a 10-year guarantee. Tell us what you need and we’ll book a free survey.
Hitchin’s housing, street by street
Hitchin has been a market town since at least the seventh century, growing around its Market Place and St Mary’s, the largest parish church in Hertfordshire. The small River Hiz runs through the centre past the church. Wool, grain and lavender all shaped the local economy, and the arrival of the railway in 1850, on the line from King’s Cross with the Cambridge branch splitting just north of the station, brought a wave of Victorian building.
That is why you find substantial Victorian and Edwardian villas and terraces off Walsworth Road and Benslow, older timber-framed and brick buildings around Bancroft and Tilehouse Street, interwar semis on the edges of the town, and post-war and later estates in areas such as Westmill, Purwell and Oughton. Each needs a different approach: a bay-fronted villa, a narrow cottage window and a wide 1960s picture window are not the same job.
Hitchin Conservation Area
The Hitchin Conservation Area was first designated in 1969 and has been reviewed and extended since. North Hertfordshire District Council adopted a revised character statement in 2011, and the extension took in streets including Bancroft, Nun’s Close, The Chilterns, Walsworth Road and Wymondley Road. There are also many listed buildings, especially along Tilehouse Street. Being in a conservation area does not automatically mean you cannot replace windows, but the rules can be tighter and listed buildings need consent. Check with North Hertfordshire District Council before ordering, and see our guide to planning permission for replacement windows.
Flats need extra thought, whether yours is in a converted Victorian house or a purpose-built block. Flats do not have householder permitted development rights, so new windows may need planning permission, and you will usually need the freeholder’s consent under your lease too.
North Hertfordshire District Council also publishes flood risk information, which is worth checking if you live close to the Hiz and are planning new ground-floor doors or an extension.
What we would suggest for different Hitchin homes
Victorian and Edwardian villas
Large bays and tall openings suit the slim frames of Reynaers SlimLine 68 aluminium casements, which keep plenty of glass and can be finished in heritage colours. If a sash look matters to you, UPVC may be the more convincing option. We do not make timber windows, so we will say at survey if your situation calls for timber.
Interwar and post-war houses
UPVC windows and doors give the best value on a full replacement. Cortizo and Alunet aluminium windows are a good middle route if you want aluminium on a tighter budget.
Garden rooms and extensions
Smart Visofold and Cortizo bifold doors or Reynaers ConceptPatio 130 sliding doors open kitchens on to gardens. We also build conservatories, orangeries and roof lanterns, and fit composite front doors.
See all of our aluminium systems on the aluminium windows and doors page.
Villages around Hitchin
- Ickleford, on the northern edge of town
- St Ippolyts and Gosmore, to the south
- Charlton
- Pirton
- Great Offley
Several of these villages have their own conservation areas, so the same check with the council applies. We also cover Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Luton.
From our Fifield workshop to your door
Hitchin is roughly 45 to 50 miles from Fifield by road, typically around an hour via the M25 and A1(M), or via the M1 and Luton. We have no office in Hitchin; your surveyor and fitters travel from Fifield. After a free survey we send a written quote, manufacture with lead times from 10 days, and fit with our own team. Aluminium windows start from £400 and we provide a 10-year guarantee. Our double glazing cost guide gives more background on budgets.
Book your Hitchin survey
Call 01753 965 005, WhatsApp 07934 152 343, or request a free quote online. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace windows in the Hitchin Conservation Area?
Often yes, but the controls can be tighter than elsewhere, and listed buildings need listed building consent for most changes. The conservation area covers the historic centre and extensions such as Bancroft, Walsworth Road and Wymondley Road. Check with North Hertfordshire District Council before ordering. We can provide drawings and specifications to support any application you make.
Are aluminium windows suitable for a Victorian house in Hitchin?
They can be. Reynaers SlimLine 68 has slim outward-opening frames that suit tall Victorian openings and can be powder-coated in traditional colours. In a sensitive street, a UPVC sash-style window may be closer to the original look. We will advise during the survey, and we always recommend checking with the council in a conservation area.
Do you offer timber windows in Hitchin?
No, we do not make timber windows or doors. If you want a timber appearance, woodgrain-finish UPVC or aluminium and composite doors are our options. Where the council requires timber, such as on certain listed buildings, we will tell you at the survey so you can find the right specialist.
How long do new windows take in Hitchin?
Lead times start from 10 days once your order is confirmed, as we make aluminium frames in our own workshop. Fitting a typical house takes one or two days. Because our team travels about an hour from Fifield, we book installation dates ahead and confirm them in writing.
Is there a charge for a survey in Hitchin or nearby villages?
No. Surveys are free and carry no obligation, whether you are in the town centre or in villages such as Ickleford, Pirton or St Ippolyts. A surveyor travels from our Fifield workshop, measures the openings, talks through products and sends a written quote afterwards.