Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as an interest in the windows in London that were bricked up has now turned into an investigation of the role light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the blocked-up windows all over the city.
The Great Fire of London was a significant change in the design of windows. This led to a change in the architecture and also the creation of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is an opening constructed in a door, wall or roof to let in light and air. It is typically constructed with frames and spanners of glass that are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window can also be described as a window aperture or window light pane.
Sash windows are the most well-known kind of window in London. They are vertically opening windows that open with a sliding mechanism. They are still used in older houses however they are not as common in modern constructions. Modern double glazed sash Windows are constructed from uPVC. They can be opened the same as traditional sash windows but they offer greater insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive and were initially developed as a result the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two Sashes move up and down in the frame and are able to overlap when opened. The sash's movement is assisted by a system of pulleys, weights, and counter balances which can be hidden within the frame.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them open or by cranking them like doors. They can be single hanging, double-hung or casement. A casement window can open outward and can have one or more sashes, which are fixed in place or tilt to aid in cleaning. There are also a few casement windows which are mounted on hinges that permit the window to swing in or out, like an awning window, or can be opened using a crank mechanism.
A sash window is an attractive design element in any house and it's not difficult to understand why they were popular for centuries. They are not without their flaws, and one of them is that they are difficult to secure in the light of security concerns in the modern world. This is the reason why we suggest that you think about replacing your windows that were sash-based with the latest tilt and turn models that are more effective in keeping intruders out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous conflagration which swept through London's city centre on the 2nd September 1666. By the time the fire was put out on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths of the city was left standing. It burned 13,000 houses as well as 52 Guild Halls and left thousands of people homeless. It was believed that the fire was started by an unnamed bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses and a strong easterly breeze. About 16 people are believed to have been killed.
After the fire, King Charles II set about rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren designed a new St Paul's Cathedral and laid the foundations for numerous churches throughout the city. He also widened the streets and made sure buildings were constructed from brick instead of timber. The city became much less overcrowded as a result of the fire.
Sash windows have been part of London architecture for long periods of time. They are well-known due to their winning combination of traditional looks and modern technology. However, it took a while to reach where they are today.
The first sash window was invented in the 17th century and included the vertical sliding bar as well as fixed sash. This made the window expand out into the room, but not to the sky. Over time the sash's design changed to resemble a box window. The sash remains a well-known and widely used window in kinds of homes and apartments.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor who has returned to his family. "I love it because it shows a scene that could actually take place. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what could be happening in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers, an artist, has photographed more than 80 bricked windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was intrigued by the aesthetics, but later discovered that these windows have significant historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital of the United States, with its rich and long history, is home to some gorgeous period buildings. Sash windows are typically 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 good in the present day. They are known for letting drafts in, being difficult to open or close and causing their mechanisms to jam. However, upvc windows in london , double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be an oasis of fresh air, providing a high-quality timber solution that is easy to operate and provides excellent energy efficiency.
It's not known who invented the sash window however English craftsmen hold the most claim to being responsible. After the Great Fire of London, they are also credited with changing building regulations to replace wider windows with frames that were smaller, which were less likely catch fire. These frames that were recessed gave Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.
The sash is comprised of tiny panes that are which are held in muntins, or glazing bars. In the past, windows were constructed of multiple panes because glass was costly. If one of them broke, replacing it would be expensive. Today, the price of glass has sunk dramatically, and windows are generally composed of one pane with astragal bars applied to give the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding them, or using an sash box mechanism. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom, which is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes are anchored in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cord, and counterbalanced by weights concealed inside the box frame.
Many of the sash windows in period buildings in London are more than 100 years old, and they can begin to show signs of problems like rattles and draughts. However they can be replaced with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and have met the strict building regulations for thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Windows that are smashed up
As you walk through the streets of old England you might have noticed that windows are sometimes replaced by bricks. Although this might seem odd, there's a good reason behind it, and it's a matter of money. Back in 1696 there was a window tax that was imposed on homeowners, which increased the amount according to the number of windows their homes had. This tax, also referred to as 'daylight theft', was so hated by people that they went to extraordinary measures to avoid paying it.
Some people chose to brick up their windows or build homes without windows at all. Fortunately this window-blocking trend was short-lived since the 'daylight theft' tax was finally pulled in 1851. It's not uncommon to see windows that are bricked up on the exterior of older buildings. You can tell if they were windows by looking at the lintel, or sill that is matched to the original glass.
Another way to find out is to look for the stepped-back line in the brickwork that resembles the lines that the glass would have taken up on either side. Examine whether all the bricks have the identical colour. If there is a gap in the brickwork where the window ought to be, it is likely that the glass never blocked.
The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is worth a visit for those who are interested in knowing more about these windows. The exhibition looks at the effect light and air has on our wellbeing and it also explores some of the ways in which we can improve our health.
The exhibition isn't without faults. Particularly, it states that "many" of the homes featured were bricked up to get around the Georgian window tax of the time. (And not only because of a general dislike of the tax.) The exhibition also fails to take into account the variety of conditions which affect wellbeing especially health, after the introduction of the tax on windows and during the so-called "lockdown" period.