The Real History Behind the “Witch Windows” of Vermont

If you’ve ever driven through rural Vermont and looked closely at the old farmhouses, you might have spotted them: odd, diagonal windows tucked beneath the eaves, usually on the second floor. They’re called “witch windows.” And depending on who you ask, the reason for the name ranges from charming folklore to pure Yankee practicality.

Either way, these wonky little panes are a quirky glimpse into regional history. So what is the deal with these weird sideways windows? Let’s get into it.

What is a witch window, exactly?

A witch window is a regular rectangular window, usually double-hung, installed at a diagonal slant, around 45 degrees. You’ll typically see them on the gable end of a house, squeezed between the eaves and the wall, like the builders were working with too little space and too much determination.

They’re almost always found in older Vermont homes built in the 19th century. And unless you’ve spent time in central or northern Vermont, there’s a good chance you’ve never seen one in your life. Which is part of what makes them so fascinating. These are deeply regional architectural quirks, like snow roofs in Norway or shotgun houses in Louisiana.

Why are they called “witch windows”?

This is where things get weird. According to local lore, these slanted windows got their nickname because witches can’t fly their broomsticks through tilted openings. That’s the story, anyway. Apparently, the angle messes with their navigation or flight path or… something.

Of course, this is complete folklore. No one genuinely believed a window could ward off witches like garlic against vampires. But that didn’t stop the name from sticking. New England has a long and storied obsession with the supernatural — especially witchcraft — and Vermonters, being Vermonters, leaned into the strange.

There’s something very on-brand about Yankee farmers installing an oddball architectural feature and letting people assume it was for witch-proofing.

So what’s the real reason for them?

As it turns out, there’s a much more boring — and very practical — explanation. In many older Vermont homes, additions were built onto existing farmhouses without drastically altering the original roofline. This meant that when homeowners wanted to add a second-floor room — often in a gable or lean-to extension — there wasn’t enough vertical space under the eaves to fit a regular window.

Instead of custom-ordering something expensive or sacrificing natural light, they tilted a standard window at an angle to make it fit. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. It’s basically an old-school hack: a way to reuse materials and make the most out of cramped architectural space. This wasn’t about aesthetics, it was about frugality. Which, again, very Vermont.

Why they haven’t caught on elsewhere

It’s kind of wild that something so distinct never became a broader trend.  Part of that’s because they were born of specific needs — the angle only really made sense in old New England homes. And once building techniques modernized, the need for slanted windows more or less disappeared. Also, they’re not exactly symmetrical. And symmetry is still king in home design.