Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started as an interest in the city's bricked-up windows has turned into an examination of the role that light and air play in wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the windows that are blocked up around the city.
The Great Fire of London marked an important 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 a hole that is made in a wall, door, or roof with the intention of admitting light and air. It is often constructed with glass panes that are mounted on the frame to permit opening and closing. A window could also be described as a window aperture, window light or window pane.
There are a number of kinds of windows, but the ones most commonly associated with London are sash windows. They are windows that open vertically and open using an opening mechanism that slides. These windows are still found in older homes but are less frequent 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, but they have much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinct and were first created as a result of the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two sashes move across the frame, and then overlap when opened. The movement of the sash is assisted by a system of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) that can be concealed or exposed in the frame.
The sashes of a sash window can be opened by either sliding them open or cranking like doorways. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. Casements open outwards, and has sashes that can be fixed or tilted to help with cleaning. Certain casement windows hinge and can swing in or out like an awning. They can also be opened by turning a crank.
Sash windows can be a beautiful design element in any house and it's easy to see why they were popular for so long. They are not without their shortcomings, and one of them is that they can be difficult to secure in the light of modern security concerns. This is the reason why we suggest to consider replacing your old sash windows with the most current tilt and turn models which are more effective in keeping intruders out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous fire that swept through London's city centre on the 2nd September 1666. By the time the fire was put out on Thursday 6th only about four-fifths of the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. A large number of people were left homeless. It is believed that the fire was started by a bakery in Pudding Lane. 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, King Charles II set about rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren designed a new St Paul's Cathedral and laid the foundations for numerous churches across the city. He also built wider roads and ensured that buildings were constructed of brick instead of timber. This meant that the city was less and crowded.
Sash windows are an iconic part of London's architecture and have been around for centuries. They are popular due to their winning combination of traditional looks and modern technology. It took some time to reach the point they are at today.
The first sash window was designed in the 17th century. It included a vertical sliding bar and a fixed sash. This made the window open out into the room, but not to the sky. In time, the sash design was modified to look like a box window. The sash remains a popular and widely used window in different types of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe l'oeil window in Smithfield, which depicts the return of a sailor his family. "I like it because it depicts an event that could occur. She added, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's easy for me to imagine what's happening in the room that is beyond it."
door repair london 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 of these windows, but later discovered that these windows have significant historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital with its rich and long history is home to a number of gorgeous period buildings. Sash windows are often associated with historical properties. From elegant townhouses to humble terraces you can see them everywhere in the capital's streets.
Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash window styles don't always look good in modern times. They are known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open and close and getting their mechanisms stuck. However, a brand new, double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be refreshing, providing a high-quality timber solution that's easy to operate and offers great energy efficiency.
It's not known who invented the sash window However, English craftsmen hold the most claim to be responsible. They are also credited with modifying building regulations following the Great Fire, which led to windows being replaced with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These frames with recessed edges give Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive style.
The sash consists of smaller panes, which are held in muntins or glazing bars. In the past, windows were composed of multiple panes since glass was expensive - should one break it would be expensive to replace it. The cost of glass has dropped dramatically, and windows are now made up of one pane, with an astragal bars that give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding them, or using the box sash mechanism. They can also be opened from both the top and bottom, which is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes of the frame are secured by a cord. Weights are hidden inside the box frame to balance the weights.
A lot of windows made of sash in historic buildings in London are over 100 years old, and they can begin to show signs of problems like rattles and draughts. They can be replaced however, using double-glazed windows that are FENSA registered, and have strict building standards in terms of thermal performance security, thermal performance, and acoustic isolation.
Windows that are clogged
When you stroll through the streets of the old England you might have noticed that windows are often replaced with bricks. While this edit seems odd, there's a very plausible reason for it, and it's related to money. In 1696, a tax on windows was applied to homeowners based on the number of windows that were in their homes. Also known as the 'daylight robbery', this tax was so hated that people went to extreme lengths to avoid it.
Some people chose to block their windows or construct homes without windows at all. Fortunately the window-blocking trend lasted only a few years since the 'daylight theft tax was eventually canceled in 1851. It's common to find 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 matches the original glass.
Examine the lines of stepped back in the brickwork, which resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Also, look to see whether the bricks are the same colour and if there's a gap in the mortar where the window would be, 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 who are curious about the history of these windows. The exhibit looks at the impact light and air have on our wellbeing and it also explores ways in which we can improve our health.
The exhibition isn't without faults. Particularly, it claims that "many" of the homes that were featured were erected to avoid paying the Georgian era window tax. (And not only because of a general disdain for the tax.) It doesn't also consider the factors that affect health, specifically health, since the introduction of the tax on windows and the so-called "lockdown" period.