Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as an interest in London's bricked up windows has turned into an examination of the role light and air play in wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the blocked-up windows all over the city.
The Great Fire of London was an important change in the design of windows. This resulted in a change in architecture and the introduction of the sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is an opening in a wall, door or roof to let in air and light. It is usually constructed with frames and spanners of glass mounted to permit opening and closing. A window may also be called a window light, window aperture or window pane.
Sash windows are the most common kind of window in London. They are windows that open vertically and open using a sliding mechanism. These windows can still be found in older houses, but are less common in more recent constructions. Modern double glazed windows are usually made from uPVC and are opened in the same way as traditional sash windows however with a much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinct and were initially invented as a result of the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two Sashes move between the frame, and then overlap when opened. The movement of sash is aided by a system pulleys, weights, and counter balances that are hidden in the frame.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them open, or by cranking them as a door. They can be single hung, double hung or casement. A casement opens outwards and may have sashes that can be fixed in place or tilted for cleaning. There are also some casement windows which are mounted on hinges that allow the window to swing in or out, similar to an awning window, or can be opened by the crank mechanism.
Sash windows can be a beautiful feature in any home, and it is not difficult to understand why they were popular for centuries. However, they aren't without their disadvantages and one of the biggest issues is that it can be a challenge to keep them secure in the current security concerns. We recommend that you replace your old sash windows with the most recent tilt-and-turn models that are more effective in keeping intruders from entering your home.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a massive conflagration that swept through the city's center on September 2nd, 1666. By the time the fire was extinguished on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths of the city left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Many thousands of people were left homeless. The fire was believed to be started by the Pudding Lane bakery. The blaze spread quickly thanks to warehouses that were filled with material that was combustible and a strong easterly wind. It is estimated that around 16 people were killed.
After the fire that followed, King Charles II set about re-building the city. Sir Christopher Wren designed a new St Paul's Cathedral and laid the foundations for numerous churches across the city. He also paved roads that were wider and made sure that buildings were constructed of bricks instead of timber. In the end, the city was much less and crowded.
Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are renowned because of their blend of traditional style and modern technology. It took some time to get to where they are today.
The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century. It featured the vertical sliding bar as well as a fixed sash. The window could be opened into the room but not upwards to the sky. Through time, the design of the sash was modified and it morphed into an open-plan window. The sash is still an extremely popular and widely used window in different types of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe of l'oeil window from Smithfield, which depicts the return of a sailor back to his family. "I love it because it depicts a scene that could actually happen. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what would be happening in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers is an artist who has taken photographs of over 80 bricked-up windows within the City of London for his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was drawn to the aesthetics of these windows, but later realized that these windows have a significant historical significance.
Sash windows
As an area with a history as long and rich as London's, this capital is home to some stunning historic buildings. Sash windows are a feature that's often associated with these historic properties. From window glass replacement london to quaint terraces, they can be seen throughout the capital's streets.
Despite their popularity, traditional sash windows don't always look the best in modern times. They are known for letting in drafts, being difficult to open or close, and often getting blocked. However, a brand new, double-glazed sash window from Lomax + Wood can be refreshing and offer a premium timber solution that is easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
It's not known who invented the sash windows, although English craftsmen have the strongest claim to be responsible. They are also credited with modifying building regulations after the Great Fire, which led to windows being replaced with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames are what give Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive style.
The sash itself is made up of small panes of glass held within glazing bars, or muntins. In the past, windows were constructed of multiple panes, as glass was expensive. If one of them broke replacing it would cost a lot. Today, the price of glass has fallen dramatically, and windows are usually composed of one pane that has astragal bars attached to give the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows are opened by sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes can be opened from both the top and bottom. The two sashes are held in vertical grooves inside the frame by a sash cord and counterbalanced by weights hidden inside the box frame.
A lot of windows that are sash in the period buildings in London are over 100 years old and may start to suffer from issues like draughts and rattles. They can be replaced, however, with double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and that have strict building standards in terms of thermal performance, security, and acoustic isolation.
Windows with bricks
You might have noticed a strange sight as you wander through the streets of old England windows are sometimes replaced with bricks. While this edit seems odd, there's a plausible reason for it, and it has to do with money. In 1696, a tax on windows was imposed on homeowners according to the number of windows that were in their homes. The tax was referred to as the 'daylight theft This tax was so detested that people went to great lengths to avoid it.
One way was to build their homes with a small number of windows, or even without windows at all, while others would simply brick them up. Fortunately the window-blocking trend lasted only a few years as the 'daylight robbery tax was eventually canceled in 1851. However, it's still common to see bricked-up windows on the sides of older buildings, and you can usually tell whether or not they were originally windows by searching for a lintel and sill which match up to where the glass would have been.
Another method to determine this is to look for the stepped-back lines in the brickwork which mimics the lines the glass would have taken up on either side. Check to see whether all the bricks are the same color. If there is a gap in the brickwork where the window should 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 learning more about these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibit does have its faults, notably in claiming that'many' of the properties featured had their windows bricked off to avoid the Georgian-era window tax (and not just due to the general dislike for the tax). It also doesn't take into account the variety of the conditions that affect well-being and health, especially after the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called "lockdown" period.