A true circle is one of the hardest shapes in joinery. With no straight members to lean on, every curve, joint, and glazing bar must be exact for the window to sit square, seal properly, and look right in its opening. At David H Wright Joinery, we design, make and install bespoke timber porthole windows from our Sherburn in Elmet workshop, for period homes, conservation-area properties and new architectural openings across Yorkshire. We make each window to order, from the first cut of timber to the final on-site fix, with our own joiners and installation team.
Whether you need a round window, a portlight, a circular feature window or a faithful replacement for a failing original, we build it to suit your opening and your property.
Enquire About Your WindowsWhat our purpose-made window joiners make:
The homeowners wanted an original design: a new circular window opening set into a traditional Yorkshire stone façade, one that kept the character expected of a period property but performed like a modern window. A standard frame was never an option.
The challenge was precision. A round window in stone has nowhere to hide. Any distortion in the frame, or any gap between the timber and the masonry, shows immediately and lets weather in.
We began with the timber. The curved frame was constructed from carefully selected timber, with the shaped sections cut, fitted and assembled into a single robust ring. This is the structural heart of the window, and it has to stay true through decades of Yorkshire weather.
Our workshop images show the shaping and the bench assembly of the frame. From markings with pale dots on the bare timber, we use plugs that conceal the fixings, leaving a clean surface for finishing.
The window’s defining detail is its central ring and radiating glazing bars. These were handcrafted using traditional joinery methods, preserving the proportions and profile of the original design rather than substituting a flat, machine-generic alternative.
The glazing bars carry a moulded profile that gives the window its depth and shadow line. It is the sort of detail that separates a joinery-made window from an off-the-shelf one.
Behind the handcrafted bars sits a sealed, double-glazed circular unit made to fit the frame. The result is a window that looks right for the building but delivers the comfort, thermal performance and draught protection homeowners now expect.
The finished frame received a microporous finish, which protects the timber from the elements while allowing it to breathe. It is applied in the workshop, where conditions are controlled, so it goes on evenly and cures properly before the window leaves us.
Every window is inspected fully glazed and finished before it leaves the workshop. This one was then installed by our own team into its circular opening in the stone wall. The crisp white timber ring against the textured Yorkshire stone is exactly the effect the homeowners hoped for: a window that looks as though it has always been part of the house.
The true test of bespoke joinery is how it marries with the property’s existing architecture. The new porthole window was meticulously installed into the freshly cut circular opening within the property’s rugged stone exterior. The contrast between the crisp, perfectly circular white timber frame and the textured Yorkshire stone creates a breathtaking architectural feature. The integration of advanced circular glass floods the new space with natural light while remaining completely draught-proof and energy-efficient.
By combining traditional workshop techniques with modern glazing performance, David H Wright Joinery delivered a structural masterpiece that looks as though it has always belonged to the home.
Would You Like to Discuss Your Window?
Because we handcraft every timber porthole window to order in our Yorkshire workshop, lead times depend on your specific dimensions, timber choice, and our current manufacturing schedule. Please contact our team with your project details for an accurate timescale.
Yes, we specialise in exact architectural replication. We can reproduce the historical proportions, timber profiles, and intricate glazing bar layouts of your original window, while dramatically upgrading the structural integrity and thermal performance hidden behind the traditional aesthetic.
Yes. We regularly design and manufacture bespoke round windows to serve as striking architectural features for brand-new openings. We can advise on exact sizing, timber specifications, and the structural preparation needed to create perfectly circular openings in both modern and traditional Yorkshire stone properties.
Yes. We integrate high-performance, circular double-glazed units as standard. For heritage properties, we can utilise ultra-thin slimline double glazing set safely behind traditionally crafted timber glazing bars. This provides excellent modern thermal efficiency without compromising historic sightlines or proportions.
In many cases, yes, though local planning consent is often required. We regularly design and manufacture bespoke timber windows that comply with strict Yorkshire conservation guidelines and Article 4 Directions. We regularly make timber windows for conservation-area homes and can advise on the detail your local planning officer is likely to want to see.
From our main workshop in Sherburn in Elmet, we supply and install bespoke joinery across the region, including Leeds, York, Harrogate, Selby, and Wakefield. Please get in touch to confirm installation availability for your specific location.
Tell us about your opening, your property and the look you’re after. We’ll advise on design, glazing and finish, and provide a quotation for a porthole window made in Yorkshire by local expert joiners.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss your project requirements and explore traditional timber solutions tailored to your home.
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