Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started as an interest in the windows in London that were bricked up has turned into an examination of the role light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photos of blocked-up windows in the city.
The Great Fire of London marked the beginning of a new phase in the design of windows. This led to a shift in the design of windows and the development of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is an opening constructed in a door, wall or roof to allow light and air. It is typically framed and spanned with panes of glass mounted to permit opening and closing. A window can also be referred to as windows, window lights or window aperture. pane.
Sash windows are the most well-known kind of window in London. They are vertically opening windows which open via the help of a sliding mechanism. They're still a popular feature in many older properties but 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 more insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were developed because of the narrow streets in London and the tight-packed buildings. They are distinguished by two sashes which slide up and down inside the frame and overlap when opened. The sash's movement is supported by a system of weights and pulleys (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or exposed in the frame.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them open or by cranking them like a door. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. A casement opens outward, and may have sashes that can be fixed or tilted for cleaning. Certain casement windows are hinged and can swing in or out like an awning. They can also be opened using the crank.
A sash window is a beautiful design element in any house and it is not difficult to see why they were so popular for so long. However, they do have their drawbacks. One of the major issues is that it's a challenge to ensure their security in the face of modern security concerns. This is why we recommend that you think about replacing your old windows with the most recent tilt and turn models that are more effective in keeping thieves out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that swept across the city's centre on September 2nd, 1666. When the fire was extinguished on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths of the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. A large number of people were displaced. It is believed that the fire was started by the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible material in warehouses and a strong easterly breeze. It is estimated that around 16 people were killed.
After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. door fitters london was commissioned to create a new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundations for dozens of other churches across the city. He also widened the streets and made sure buildings were constructed of bricks instead of timber. This meant that the city was significantly less and crowded.
Sash windows are a traditional part of London's architecture and have been around for centuries. They are renowned for their combination of traditional style and modern technology. It took an extended time to get to where they are today.
The first sash windows were invented in the 17th Century and featured an incline bar that could be slid vertically and a fixed window sash. This made the window expand out onto the room but not into the sky. The design of the sash changed and it was transformed into an open-plan window. Today, the sash remains an extremely popular window and is used in many different styles of apartments and houses.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe the l'oeil windows in Smithfield, which depicts the return of a sailor back to his family. "I like it because it could happen." It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what might be happening in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers, an artist has captured more than 80 bricked-up windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He says that initially, he was intrigued by the aesthetics of these windows, but has since found that they have an important historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital, with its long and rich history, is home to some gorgeous period buildings. Sash windows are usually connected with historic homes. From grand townhouses to quaint terraces you can see them everywhere in the capital's streets.
Despite their popularity in the past, the traditional sash window styles aren't always attractive in the present day. They are known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open or close and getting their mechanisms jammed up. But a new, double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be an oasis of fresh air and offer a premium timber solution that's easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
It's unclear who invented the sash windows however English craftsmen have the strongest claim to be responsible. They are also credited with modifying building regulations after the Great Fire, which led to the replacement of larger windows with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These frames with recessed edges gives Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive appearance.
The sash is comprised of smaller panes, which are which are held in muntins, or glazing bars. In the past, windows were constructed of several panes, since glass was costly. If one was damaged replacing it would cost a lot. The cost of glass has dropped dramatically, and windows are now made of a single pane with astragal bars to give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding or using the box sash. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom that is referred to as a double-hung sash. The two sashes of the frame are secured by a cord. The weights are concealed in the frame to help balance the weights.
Many sash windows are more than 100-years-old and may be experiencing issues such as rattles or drafts. They can be replaced however, using double-glazed sash Windows that are FENSA registered and meet strict building regulations regarding thermal performance, security, and acoustic isolation.
Bricked up windows
You might have noticed something odd as you walk around the streets of old England windows are often replaced with bricks. This may sound odd, but it's for a very good cause, and it involves money. In 1696, a tax on windows was placed on homeowners in proportion to the number of windows they had in their homes. Also known as the 'daylight robbery This tax was so resented that people went to extreme lengths to avoid it.
Some people decided to brick up their windows or build homes without windows at all. Fortunately this window-blocking trend lasted only a few years as the 'daylight robbery tax was finally lifted in 1851. It's still common to see windows with bricks on the sides of older buildings and you can determine if they were originally windows by looking for a lintel or sill which match up to the place where the glass would have been.
Examine the step back line in the brickwork, which resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Look to see whether all the bricks are the identical colour. If there is a gap where the window should be, it's likely that the glass was never blocked.
If you're interested in understanding the history behind these windows, there is an exhibit at London's Victoria & Albert Museum called The Daylight Robbery which is worth a visit. The exhibition looks at the effect light and air have on our wellbeing and it examines ways in which we can improve our health.
The exhibition does have its flaws, chiefly in the claim that "many" of the homes that were featured had their windows blasted off to get around the Georgian window tax (and not just because of a general hatred for the tax). It also doesn't consider the complexity of health issues especially health, after the introduction of the tax on windows and during the so-called "lockdown" period.