Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started as a fascination with the city's bricked-up windows has turned into an examination of the role that light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photographs of windows that are blocked in the city.
The Great Fire of London marked a turning point in the design of windows. This resulted in a change in the architecture and also 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 covered and spanned by panes of glass mounted to permit opening and closing. A window may also be called window light or window aperture, or a window pane.
There are a number of different types of windows but the ones that are most often associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open with a sliding mechanism. They are still a common feature in many older homes, but they are less common in modern constructions. Modern double glazed windows are usually made from uPVC and are opened in the same way as traditional sash windows, but with a much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were invented because of the narrow streets of London and the tight-packed buildings. Two sashes slide up and down in the frame, and overlap when opened. The sash's movement is made possible 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 a door. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. Casements open outwards, and can have sashes that can be fixed in place or tilted for cleaning. Certain casement windows are hinged and can swing in or out like an awning or be opened by turning a crank.
It's easy to see why sash windows have been so popular throughout the years. But, they have their drawbacks. One of the major issues is that it's difficult to ensure their security in the face of modern security issues. This is the reason we suggest to consider replacing your windows that were sash-based with the latest tilt and turn models which are more effective in keeping intruders out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a massive conflagration that swept through the city centre on September 2nd, 1666. By the time the fire was extinguished on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 houses as well as 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls which left thousands of people homeless. The fire is believed to be the result of a Pudding Lane bakery. The fire spread quickly due to the presence of combustible material 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 designed a new St Paul's Cathedral and laid the foundations for dozens of churches across the city. He also paved roads that were wider and made sure that buildings were constructed of brick instead of timber. In the end, 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 popular due to their mix of traditional style and modern technology. It took them a long time to get to where they are today.
The first sash window was invented in the 17th century and featured a vertical sliding bar and fixed sash. This allowed the window to extend out into the room, but not up into the sky. As window fitters london passed the sash's shape was modified to look more like the shape of a box window. Today, the sash remains an extremely popular window and is utilized in a variety of styles of apartments and houses.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor returning to his family. "I like it because the scene could actually take place." It's a beautiful place and it's easy to imagine what would be going on in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers is an artist who has captured more than 80 bricked-up windows throughout the City of London for his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was drawn to the aesthetics, but later realized that these windows have significant historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital with its long and rich history is home to some gorgeous period buildings. Sash windows are a feature that's often associated with these historical homes. They are often located in the streets of London, from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.
Despite their popularity the traditional sash windows do not always make the best impression in contemporary times. They're known for letting draughts in and being difficult to open or close and having their mechanisms clogged. A brand new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It offers a high-quality timber product that is easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
It's not known who invented the sash window However, English craftsmen are the most credible 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, which were less likely catch fire. These frames that were recessed provided Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash itself consists of small glass panes held within glazing bars, or muntins. Originally, windows were made of multiple panes because glass was costly. If one of them broke, replacing it would be costly. Today, the price of glass has dropped dramatically, and windows are typically composed of one pane with astragal bars applied to create the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them or using a box sash mechanism. They can also be opened from both the top and bottom and this is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes inside the frame are held in place by a cord. The weights are concealed in the frame to balance the weights.
Many windows made of sash in historic buildings in London are over 100 years old, and they can start to exhibit problems such as rattles and draughts. You can replace them however, using double-glazed windows that are FENSA registered and that comply with strict building regulations in terms of thermal performance, security, and acoustic isolation.
Windows that are clogged
You might have noticed something odd when you stroll through the streets of the old England windows are sometimes replaced with bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's a good cause and it involves money. In 1696, a tax on windows was placed on homeowners in proportion to the number of windows that were in their homes. This tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so resented by the public that they went to great measures to avoid paying it.
A few people choose to block their windows or build homes without windows at all. The window-blocking trend was only temporary, as the 'daylight-robbery tax' was finally removed in 1851. However, it's not uncommon to see bricked-up windows along the sides of older buildings, and you can usually tell whether or not they were originally windows by looking for a lintel and sill which match up to where the glass would have been.
Examine the stepped back line in the brickwork, which resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Also, look to determine if the bricks are all the same colour and if there's a gap in the mortar where the window would be, it's likely that the window was not actually blocked off.
For those interested in exploring the background of these windows, there's an exhibit at London's Victoria & Albert Museum called The Daylight Robbery which is worth checking out. The exhibit looks at the effect light and air have on our health and wellbeing. It also explores some of the ways to improve our health.
The exhibition has its faults. Particularly, it claims that "many" of the houses included were bricked to get around the Georgian window tax of the Georgian era. (And this isn't just because of a general dislike of the tax.) The exhibition doesn't consider the conditions that affect health, specifically health, following the introduction of the tax on windows and the so-called "lockdown" period.