Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows

What began as a fascination with London's bricked up windows has now turned into an investigation of the role light and air play in wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the windows that are blocked up in the city.

The Great Fire of London was a significant change in the design of windows. This led to a change in architecture and the introduction of the sash windows.

What is a Window?

A window is a small opening that is made in a wall, door, or roof with the intention of admitting light and air. It is often covered with glass panes on the frame, allowing opening and closing. A window may also be described as window light, window aperture or window pane.

There are many kinds of windows, but the ones most commonly associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open with an opening mechanism that slides. They are still used in older houses, but are less common in more modern structures. Modern double-glazed sash windows are constructed from uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they offer greater insulation.

Sash windows are distinctive. They were developed due to the narrow streets of London and the tight-packed buildings. They are distinguished by two sashes which slide up and down inside the frame and then overlap when opened. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or visible in the frame.

Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them open or by cranking them up like doors. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. A casement window can open outwards and may have one or more sashes that are held in place or tilted to assist with cleaning. Some casement windows are hinged and swing in or out like an awning. They can also be opened using a crank.

A sash window can be an elegant feature in any home and it's not difficult to see why they were so popular for so long. However, they aren't without their disadvantages and one of the major issues is that it can be difficult to keep them secure against modern security issues. This is why we recommend that you consider replacing your old sash windows with the most recent tilt and turn models that are more effective at keeping the intruders away.

The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that was a major threat to the city's centre on the 2nd of September 1666. When the fire was completely slowed down on Thursday, the 6th, only four fifths of the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of people were homeless. The fire is believed to be started by the Pudding Lane bakery. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as an intense easterly breeze. It is estimated that approximately 16 people were killed.

After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design the new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundations for numerous other churches throughout the city. He also built wider streets and made sure that buildings were constructed from brick instead of timber. As a result, the city was much less overcrowded.

Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are well-known due to their perfect blend of traditional design and modern technology. However, it took a while to get to where they are today.

The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century. They included bars that were vertically sliding and a fixed window sash. The window could be opened outwards into the room but not upwards into the sky. In time the sash's shape was modified to look more like the shape of a box window london. The sash is still a popular and widely used window in many different kinds of houses and apartments.

Jen Pedler chose a trompe l'oeil window in Smithfield depicts the return of a sailor to his family. "I enjoy it because it portrays the possibility of a scene to take place. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what might be going on in the room behind it," she said.

Andy Summers, an artist photographer, has taken photos of more than 80 bricked up windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was drawn to the aesthetics of the windows, but later realized that these windows have significant historical significance.

Sash windows

As a city with a history as long and rich as that of London, the capital is home to some beautiful historic buildings. Sash windows are often connected with historic homes. They are located in the streets of London from aristocratic terraces all the way to humble townhouses.

Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash window styles don't always look appealing in the present day. They are known for letting in draughts, being difficult to open and close, and often getting jammed up. A new double glazing london-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of air. It's a premium timber product that's easy-to-operate and has a high energy efficiency.

The sash window was invented by English craftsmen, but the origin of it is not known for sure. Following the Great Fire of london glass repair, they are also credited with changing building regulations to replace larger windows with frames that were narrower, that were less prone to catch fire. These frames that were recessed created Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.

The sash itself is comprised of small glass panes that are encased in glazing bars or muntins. In the past, windows were composed of several panes due to the fact that glass was so expensive that if one broke, it would be costly to replace it. Today, the price of glass has dropped dramatically, and windows are typically composed of one pane that has astragal bars attached to give the appearance of smaller panes.

Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them or using a box sash mechanism. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom and this is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes inside the frame are held in place by a cord. The weights are concealed in the frame to balance the weights.

A lot of sash windows in period buildings in London are over 100 years old and may begin to show signs of problems like rattles and draughts. You can replace them, however, with double glazing repair london (visit my web page)-glazed sash Windows that are FENSA registered and comply with strict building regulations regarding thermal performance as well as security and acoustic isolation.

Windows that have been smashed

When you stroll through the streets of old England, you may have observed that windows are occasionally replaced by bricks. This may sound odd, but it's for a very good cause, and it involves money. In 1696, there was a window tax that was imposed on homeowners, try what she says which increased the amount based on how many windows their houses had. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft' was so resented by the public that they went to extreme measures to avoid paying.

One way was to build their homes with a minimum number of windows, or without them altogether, while others would simply build them up. Fortunately this window-blocking trend faded away since the 'daylight theft tax was eventually canceled in 1851. It's common to see windows that are bricked up on the sides of older buildings. You can determine if these windows are windows by looking at the lintel or sill that matches the original glass.

Examine the lines of stepped back in the brickwork that mimics the lines of the glass on either side. Also, look to check if the bricks are all the same colour, and if there's a gap in the mortar where the window would be, it's likely that the window wasn't actually blocked off.

If you're interested in understanding the history of these windows, there is an exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum called The Daylight Robbery which is worth a visit. The exhibition explores the impact of light and air on our health and wellbeing.

The exhibition does have its faults, notably in the claim that 'a lot' of the properties featured had their windows bricked off to avoid paying the Georgian-era window tax (and not just because of a general hatred for the tax). It also doesn't take into account the variety of conditions which affect wellbeing and health, especially after the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called "lockdown" period.