Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as a visual fascination in the city's bricked-up windows has evolved into an examination of the role light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 images of windows that have been blocked in the city.
The Great Fire of London marked an important turning point in the design of windows. This led to a change in the architecture and the introduction of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is a slit which is built into a wall, door, or roof for the purpose of admitting light and air. It is usually framed and spanned with panes of glass, which are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window can also be referred to as a window aperture or window light, or window pane.
Sash windows are the most common type of window found in London. They are vertically opening windows that open with an opening mechanism that slides. They are still a common feature in many older homes, but they are not as common in the newer constructions. Modern double glazed sash Windows are made from uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash Windows, but they offer much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were created due to the narrow streets in London and the tight-packed buildings. Two sashes move 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 that can be hidden within the frame.
The sashes of a sash window can be opened by sliding them open or cranking like a door. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. A casement opens outwards and may have sashes that are fixed in place or tilted for cleaning. There are also casement windows that are hung on hinges that allow the window to swing in and out, much like an awning window, or can be opened by the crank mechanism.
A sash window can be a beautiful design element in any house and it's not difficult to understand why they were so popular for so long. They are not without their drawbacks, and among them is that they are difficult to secure in the light of the latest security concerns. We recommend that you replace your old sash window with the most recent tilt-and-turn models that are more effective in keeping burglars from entering your home.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous conflagration which swept through London's city centre on 2nd September 1666. When the fire was completely slowed down on Thursday, the 6th, only four fifths of 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. It was believed that the fire started because of the bakery located in Pudding Lane. The flame quickly spread thanks to warehouses that were filled with combustible materials and a strong easterly wind. About 16 people are believed to have died.
After the fire the king Charles II set about re-building 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 widened the streets and ensured that buildings were constructed from brick instead of timber. This meant that the city was less and crowded.
Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are popular for their combination of traditional style and modern technology. However, it took a while to get to where they are today.
The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century. They included a vertically sliding bar and a fixed window sash. This allowed the window to open out into the room, but not to the sky. Through time, the design of the sash was altered and it became more of a box-style window. The sash is an extremely popular window that is utilized in a variety of types of homes and apartments.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor who has returned to his family. " sash window repairs london enjoy it because it shows the possibility of a scene to occur. She said, "It's a very atmospheric space, and it's easy for me to imagine what's going on in the room that is beyond it."
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 claims that initially, he was intrigued by the aesthetics of these windows but he has realized that they have an important historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital of the United States, with its rich and long history, is home to some stunning period structures. Sash windows are a feature that's often associated with these historic properties. They are located in the streets of London, from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.
Despite their popularity the traditional sash windows do not always look the best in the present day. They are known for letting drafts in and being difficult to close or open and causing their mechanisms to jam. A brand new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It's a top-quality timber product that's easy-to-operate and offers great energy-efficiency.
The sash window was created by English craftsmen, however it is not known for sure. 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 provided Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.
The sash consists of smaller panes, which are held in muntins or glazing bars. In the past, windows were constructed of multiple panes because glass was costly. If one was damaged, replacing it would be expensive. Today, the price of glass has dropped dramatically so the windows are usually composed of one pane, with astragal bars inserted to give the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened through sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes can be opened from both sides. The two sashes inside the frame are held in place by a cord. The weights are concealed in the frame to help balance the weights.
A lot of windows made of sash in historic buildings in London are more than 100 years old, and they can start to exhibit problems like rattles and draughts. They can be replaced, however, with double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and have strict building standards in terms of thermal performance security, thermal performance, and acoustic isolation.
Windows that have been smashed
When you stroll through the streets of the old England you might have noticed that windows are sometimes replaced by bricks. This may sound odd, but it's an excellent cause, and it involves money. In 1696, a window tax was applied to homeowners in proportion to the number of windows in their homes. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so resented by the public that they went to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying it.
One option was to construct their homes with a small number of windows, or even without them altogether, while others would brick them up. The window-blocking practice was a short-lived one and the 'daylight-robbery tax was finally eliminated in 1851. It's common to see windows that are bricked up on the side of older buildings. You can tell if they were windows by looking at the lintel or sill that is matched to the original glass.
Examine the lines of stepped back in the brickwork that mimics the lines of the glass on either side. Examine if all the bricks have the identical color. If there is a gap in the brickwork where the window should be, it's likely that the glass was not blocked.
If you're interested in understanding the history of these windows, there's an exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum called The Daylight Robbery which is worth checking out. The exhibit looks at the impact light and air has on our health and also explores ways we can improve our health.
The exhibition has its faults. Most notably, it claims that "many" of the properties included were bricked to avoid the Georgian window tax of the time. (And not just out of a general dislike of the tax.) It also fails to take into account the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing especially health, after the introduction of the window tax, and during the so-called "lockdown" period.