Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as a fascination with London's bricked up windows has now turned into an investigation of the role light and air play in wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the windows that are blocked up all over the city.
The Great Fire of London marked a turning point in the design of windows. This led to a change in the architecture and the introduction of sash window.
What is a Window?
A window is a opening in a wall, door or roof to admit light and air. It is usually framed with glass panes mounted on the frame to permit opening and closing. A window can also be described as a window aperture or window light pane.
There are a number of kinds of windows, but the ones that are most often associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open with an opening mechanism that slides. They are still used in older houses however they are not as common in modern constructions. Modern double-glazed sash windows are generally constructed of uPVC and can be opened in the same way as traditional sash windows however with much improved insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were invented because of the narrow streets of London and the tight-packed buildings. They are distinguished by two sashes which slide up and down inside the frame and overlap when open. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of weights and pulleys (known as counter balances) that can be concealed or exposed within the frame.
The windows' sashes can be opened by either sliding them open or cranking like a door. They can be single hang, double or casement. A casement window opens outwards and may have one or more sashes, which are fixed in place or tilt to aid in cleaning. There are also casement windows that hang on hinges that permit the window to swing in and out, like an awning window, or can be opened using a crank mechanism.
It is easy to see why sash windows have become so popular over the centuries. However, they do have their disadvantages and one of the major issues is that it could be difficult to keep them safe in the face of modern security issues. We recommend replacing your old sash window 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 blaze that swept through the city centre on September 2nd, 1666. The fire was slowed down on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths of the city left standing. It burned 13,000 houses, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls which left thousands of people homeless. The fire is believed to have been started by a Pudding Lane bakery. The fire quickly spread due to warehouses containing explosive materials and a powerful easterly wind. Around 16 people are believed to have been killed.
After the fire that followed, King Charles II began to rebuild the city. Sir Christopher Wren designed a new St Paul's Cathedral and laid the foundations for dozens of churches throughout the city. He also constructed wider streets and made sure buildings were constructed from brick rather than timber. In the end, the city was less crowded.
Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are renowned for their combination of traditional style and modern technology. It took some time to reach the point they are at today.
window companies london were invented in the 17th century. It included an incline bar that was vertical and an sash that was fixed. The window could expand out into the room, but not up into the sky. In time, the sash design was modified to look like a box window. The sash continues to be an extremely popular and widely used window in different kinds of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor returning to his family. "I like it because it portrays an event that could happen. She said, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's easy to imagine what's going on in the room that is beyond it."
Andy Summers, an artist photographer, has taken photos of more than 80 bricked windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was interested in the aesthetics of these windows, but he later discovered that the windows have a significant historical significance.
Sash windows
As an area with a history as long and rich as that of London, the capital is home to some beautiful period buildings. Sash windows are usually associated with historical properties. From grand townhouses to humble terraces you can see them everywhere in the capital's streets.
Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash windows styles don't always look appealing in contemporary times. They are known for letting drafts in and are difficult to open or close and having their mechanisms jammed. A new double-glazed sash made by Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It's a top-quality timber product that is easy-to-use and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was created by English craftsmen, however it isn't known for certain. Following the Great Fire of London, they are also credited with changing building regulations to replace larger windows with frames that were smaller, that were less prone to catch fire. These recessed frames give Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive style.
The sash is made up of smaller panes, which are which are held in muntins, or glazing bars. Originally, windows were made of several panes, since glass was expensive. If one broke, replacing it would be expensive. The cost of glass has dropped dramatically, and windows are now made up of one pane, with an astragal bar applied to give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them, or using the box sash mechanism. They can also be opened from both the top and bottom that is referred to as a double-hung sash. The two sashes of the frame are secured by a cord. Weights are hidden inside the frame to balance the weights.
A lot of sash windows are 100 years old and may be exhibiting problems such as rattles and drafts. You can replace them however, using double-glazed sash Windows that are FENSA registered, and comply with strict building regulations regarding thermal performance security, thermal performance, and acoustic isolation.
Bricked-up windows
While walking through the streets of the old England you might have noticed that windows are often replaced by bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's for a very good cause, and it's also a source of cash. In 1696, a window tax was applied to homeowners in proportion to the number of windows that were in their homes. This tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so hated by people that they went to great 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 simply build them up. The window-blocking trend was only temporary, as the 'daylight-robbery tax was finally eliminated in 1851. It's common to see windows that have been smashed 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.
Another way to find out 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. Also, look to determine if the bricks are all the same colour and if there is a gap in the mortar where the window would have been, it's possible that the window was never 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 exhibition examines the impact of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibition does have its flaws, chiefly in the claim that 'a lot' of the properties that were featured had their windows blasted off to avoid the Georgian-era window tax (and not just because of an overall dislike of the tax). It fails to consider the factors that affect health, specifically health, following the introduction of the tax on windows and the so-called "lockdown" period.