Daylight Robbery – London’s Blocked-Up Windows

What started as an interest in London’s bricked up windows has turned into an examination of the role that light and air play in enhancing wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 images of windows that have been blocked in 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 creation of sash windows.

What is a window?

A window is an opening constructed in a wall, door or roof to let in air and light. It is often framed with glass panes mounted on the frame, allowing opening and closing. A window could also be called a window light or window aperture. pane.

Sash windows are the most well-known kind of window in London. These are vertically opening windows that open using an opening mechanism that slides. These windows can still be found in older houses, but are less common in more recent constructions. Modern double-glazed sash Windows are made of uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows, however, they provide more insulation.

Sash windows are very distinctive and they were originally created as a result of the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two Sashes move between the frame, and overlap when opened. The movement of the sash is supported by a system of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or visible in the frame.

The sashes of a sash window can be opened by either sliding them open or cranked like a door. They can be single hang, double or casement. Casement windows open outward and can have one or more sashes that are held in place or tilt to aid in cleaning. There are also some casement windows that are hung on hinges, allowing the window to swing in or out, like an awning window, or which can be opened using a crank mechanism.

A sash window is a beautiful feature in any home, and it’s not difficult to see why they were popular for so long. They are not without their drawbacks, and among them is that they are difficult to secure in the light of modern security concerns. We recommend replacing your sash window that was in use with the most recent tilt-and-turn models that are more effective in keeping intruders away.

The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that spread through the city’s center on the 2nd of September, 1666. When the fire was finally completely slowed down on Thursday, the 6th, only four-fifths the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Many thousands of people were displaced. It was believed that the fire was started by the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as an intense easterly breeze. It is estimated that about 16 people were killed.

After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design a new St Paul’s Cathedral, and he also laid the foundation for dozens of other churches across the city. He also constructed wider streets and ensured that buildings were built with bricks instead of timber. The city became less crowded because of the fire.

Sash windows are a traditional part of London’s architecture and have been around for hundreds of years. They are well-known due to their successful blend of traditional style and modern technology. It took them a long time to get to where they are today.

The first sash windows were designed in the 17th century. They included a vertically sliding bar and a fixed window sash. The window could be opened into the room, but not upwards towards the sky. Over time, the sash design was modified to look like the shape of a box window. The sash continues to be a well-known and frequently used window in many kinds of homes and apartments.

Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l’oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor returning home to his family. “I love it because it depicts an event that could take place. She said, “It’s a very atmospheric space and it’s simple for me to imagine what’s happening in the room that is beyond it.”

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 initially was interested in the aesthetics, but he later discovered that the windows have a significant historical significance.

Sash windows

As a city with a history as long and rich as London’s, this capital is home to beautiful historic buildings. And sash windows are often associated with these historic properties. They are found in the London streets from aristocratic terraces all the way to humble townhouses.

Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don’t always give the best impression in contemporary times. They have a reputation for letting in draughts and being difficult to open and close, and often getting jammed up. However, a brand new, double-glazed sash window from Lomax + Wood can be refreshing and offer a premium timber solution that’s easy to operate and offers great energy efficiency.

It’s unclear who came up with the idea for the sash window However, English craftsmen hold the most claim to being responsible. Following the Great Fire of London, they are also credited with changing building regulations to replace wider windows with frames that were smaller, that were less prone to catch fire. These frames that were recessed provided Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.

The sash itself is made up of small panes of glass that are encased in glazing bars or muntins. Originally, windows were made of several panes, since glass was expensive. If one broke, replacing it would be costly. Today, the cost of glass has fallen drastically, so windows are typically comprised of a single pane, with astragal bars inserted to give the appearance of smaller panes.

double glazing repairs london are opened by sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes can be opened from both sides. The two sashes are anchored in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cord and balanced by weights that are hidden within the box frame.

Many of the windows that are sash in the period buildings in London are more than 100 years old and can start to suffer from problems like rattles and draughts. They can be replaced however, by installing double-glazed 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 the old England you might have observed that windows are occasionally replaced with bricks. While this edit seems odd, there’s actually a plausible reason for it, and it has to do with money. In 1696, a tax on windows was placed on homeowners according to the number of windows that were in their homes. The tax, also known as ‘daylight theft’, was so hated by people that they went to extraordinary measures to avoid paying it.

Some people decided to block their windows or build homes without windows at all. Fortunately this window-blocking trend faded away because the ‘daylight robbery’ tax was finally pulled in 1851. It’s common to find 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 is matched to the original glass.

Another way to find out is to look for the stepped-back line within the brickwork that resembles the lines that the glass could have taken up on either side. Also, check to determine if the bricks are all the same colour, and if there’s a gap within the mortar where the window would have been, it’s likely that the window wasn’t actually blocked off.

The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is worth a visit for those curious about the history of these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and wellbeing.

The exhibition isn’t without faults. It is notable that it claims that “many” of the houses that were featured were erected to avoid paying the Georgian era window tax. (And this isn’t just because of a general disdain for the tax.) It also fails to take into account the variety of health issues and health, especially after the introduction of the window tax, and during the so-called ‘lockdown’ period.