Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started out as a visual fascination in London's bricked-up windows has become an investigation into the role that light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of windows that have been blocked around the city.
The Great Fire of London was an important moment in the history of window design. This led to a change in architecture and the creation of sash windows.
What is a Window?
A window is a small opening that is constructed in a door, wall or roof for the purpose of admitting light and air. It is often framed with glass panes mounted on the frame, allowing opening and closing. A window may also be described as a window aperture or window light pane.
There are a number of different kinds of windows, however the ones that are most associated with London are sash windows. These are vertically-opening windows that are opened using an opening mechanism that slides. These windows can still be found in older houses, but are less common in modern constructions. Modern double-glazed sash windows are constructed from uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they have much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were developed due to the narrow streets in London and the tight-packed buildings. Two sashes move up and down in the frame and are able to overlap when opened. The movement of sash is aided by a system that includes pulleys, weights, as well as counter balances that are hidden in the frame.
The sashes of a sash window can be opened by sliding them open or cranked like doorways. They can be single hung, double hung or casement. A casement opens outward, and can have sashes that are fixed in place or tilted for cleaning. Certain casement windows are hinged and swing in or out like an awning or be opened with the crank.
A sash window is an elegant design element in any house and it's easy to understand why they were so popular for centuries. They are not without their shortcomings, and one of them is that they can be difficult to secure in the light of security concerns in the modern world. We recommend replacing your sash window that was in use with the latest 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 fire that was a major threat to the city's centre on 2nd September 1666. When the fire was finally put out on the 6th, just four-fifths of the city remained standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of people were displaced. The fire was believed to be started by a Pudding Lane bakery. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as an extremely strong easterly breeze. Around 16 people are believed to have died.
After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to create the new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundation for dozens of other churches across the city. He also built wider roads and ensured that buildings were built of brick instead of timber. In the end, the city was significantly less crowded.
Sash windows are an iconic part of London's architecture, and have been in use for many centuries. They are popular because they provide a winning combination of traditional looks and modern technology. It took a while for them to reach where they are today.
The first sash windows were created in the 17th Century and had bars that were vertically sliding and a fixed window sash. This made the window expand out into the room, but not into the sky. Over the years the design of the sash was altered and it morphed into a box-style window. The sash remains a popular and widely used window in many different types of houses and apartments.
east london double glazing selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor who has returned to his family. "I love it because it portrays the possibility of a scene to happen. She said, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's easy for me to imagine what's happening in the room to the left."
Andy Summers, an artist, has photographed 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, but later discovered that these windows have a significant historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital, with its rich and long history is home to some stunning period structures. Sash windows are often associated with historic properties. From elegant townhouses to humble terraces you can see them all over the streets of the capital city.
Despite their popularity, traditional sash windows don't always look the best in modern times. They are notorious for letting draughts in and are difficult to close or open and having their mechanisms jammed. But a new, double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be a breath of fresh air offering a high-quality wood solution that is easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
It's not really known who invented the sash windows however English craftsmen have the strongest claim of being responsible. Following the Great Fire of London, they are also credited for changing building regulations to replace wider windows with frames that were smaller, that were less prone to catch fire. These recessed frames gave Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash consists of smaller panes, which are which are held in muntins, or glazing bars. Originally, the windows were comprised of multiple panes because glass was expensive - in the event of a break it would cost a lot to replace it. The cost of glass has decreased drastically, and windows are now made of one pane, with an astragal bars to give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened through sliding or using the box sash. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom, which is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes are held 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 made of sash in historic buildings in London are over 100 years old, and they can begin to show signs of problems such as rattles and draughts. We can replace them however, by installing double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered, and comply with strict building regulations in terms of thermal performance as well as security and acoustic insulation.
Bricked up windows
When you stroll through the streets of old England you might have observed that windows are occasionally replaced by bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's a good cause and it's a matter of money. Back in 1696, there was a tax on windows that was imposed, which levy homeowners more based on how many windows their houses had. This tax, also known as 'daylight theft' was so detested by people that they went to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying it.
Some people decided to block their windows or construct homes without windows. Fortunately, this window-blocking trend faded away because the 'daylight robbery tax was eventually canceled in 1851. However, it's not uncommon to see bricked-up windows along the sides of older buildings and you can identify if they were originally windows by looking for a lintel and sill that are in line with the place where the glass would have been.
Another method to determine this is to look for the stepped-back line in the brickwork which mimics the lines that the glass would have taken up on either side. Check to see if all the bricks have the same colour. If there is a gap in the brickwork where the window ought to be, it is likely that the glass was not 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 looks at the effect light and air have on our health and wellbeing. It also explores ways we can improve our health.
The exhibition has its faults, most notably in the claim that "many" of the homes featured had their windows bricked off to get around the Georgian window tax (and not just because of a general hatred for the tax). It also fails to take into account the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing, particularly health, following the introduction of the tax on windows and during the so-called "lockdown" period.