Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as an interest in London's bricked up windows has evolved into an investigation of the role light and air play in enhancing wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the blocked-up windows in the city.
The Great Fire of London marked the beginning of a new phase in the design of windows. 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 wall, door, or roof with the intention of letting light and air in. sash window repairs london is often covered and spanned by panes of glass, which are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window may also be referred to as window light or window aperture. pane.
There are a number of different kinds of windows, however the ones that are most often associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open using a sliding mechanism. They're still a popular feature in many older homes, but they are less common in newer builds. Modern double glazed sash windows are generally constructed from uPVC and are opened in the same way as traditional sash windows however with a lot more insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were invented due to 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 then overlap when they are open. The sash's movement is made possible by a system of pulleys, weights and counter balances that are hidden in the frame.
The sashes of a sash windows can be opened by sliding them open or cranking like doorways. They can be single hang, double or casement. Casements open outwards, and has sashes that are fixed in place or tilted for cleaning. Certain casement windows hinge and can swing in or out like an awning. They can also be opened using the crank.
It's not difficult to understand why sash windows have been extremely popular throughout the years. They do have shortcomings, and one of them is that they are difficult to secure in the light of modern security concerns. This is why we recommend that you think about replacing your old sash windows with the latest tilt and turn models that are more effective at keeping intruders out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that swept across the city's centre on September 2nd, 1666. The fire was extinguished on the 6th of September, only around four-fifths of the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Many thousands of people were displaced. It is believed that the fire was started by the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire quickly spread due to warehouses that were filled with combustible materials and a strong easterly wind. About 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 throughout the city. He also constructed wider roads and made sure that buildings were built of brick instead of timber. This meant that the city was significantly less overcrowded.
Sash windows have been part of London architecture for centuries. They are a popular choice because they provide a perfect blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took them a long time to reach where they are now.
The first sash windows were created in the 17th century. They included an incline bar that could be slid vertically and a fixed window sash. This allowed the window to extend out onto the room but not up into the sky. The design of the sash changed and it was transformed into a box-style window. The sash continues to be an extremely popular and widely used window in many different kinds of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe the l'oeil windows in Smithfield depicts the return of a sailor back to his family. "I like it because it could take place." 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 captured more than 80 bricked windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He claims that initially he was interested in the aesthetics of these windows, but has since discovered that they have an important historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital with its long and rich history is home to some gorgeous period buildings. And sash windows are a feature that's often associated with these historic homes. From elegant townhouses to quaint terraces, they can be seen all over the streets of the capital city.
Despite their popularity, traditional sash windows don't always look the best in contemporary times. They are notorious for letting drafts in and are difficult to open or close and having their mechanisms jammed. A new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It offers a high-quality timber product that is easy-to-use and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was invented by English craftsmen, but it isn't known for certain. Following the Great Fire of London, they are also credited with changing building regulations to substitute wider windows with frames that were narrower, which were less likely catch fire. These frames with recessed edges give Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive look.
The sash itself is comprised of small panes of glass which are held in glazing bars or muntins. In the past, windows were comprised of multiple panes since glass was expensive - should one break, it would be costly to replace it. The cost of glass has dropped drastically, and windows are now made up of one pane that has an astragal bars that give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them, or using a box sash mechanism. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom and this is known as a double-hung sash. The two sashes of the frame are held in place by a cord. Weights are hidden inside the box frame to help balance the weights.
A lot of windows that are sash in the period buildings in London are over 100 years old and can start to suffer from problems such as rattles and draughts. However they can be replaced with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and comply with stringent building regulations regarding thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Bricked-up windows
While walking through the streets of the old England You may have noticed that windows are often replaced by bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's for an excellent cause, and it's a matter of money. In 1696, a tax on windows was applied to homeowners according to the number of windows they had in their homes. This tax, also referred to as 'daylight theft' was so detested by people that they went to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying it.
One option was to construct their homes with a minimum amount of windows, or even without them altogether, while others would brick them up. This window-blocking was short-lived, as the 'daylight-robbery tax was finally eliminated in 1851. However, it's still common to see windows with bricks on the sides of older buildings and you can determine if they were originally windows by searching for a lintel and sill that are in line with the place where the glass would have been.
Another way to know is to check for the stepped-back lines in the brickwork which mimics the lines that the glass would have taken up on either side. Examine whether all the bricks are the same color. If there is a gap where the window should be, it is likely that the glass was not blocked.
The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is worth visiting for those who are curious about the history of these windows. The exhibition explores the impact of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibition isn't without faults. Most notably, it claims that "many" of the homes featured were bricked up to avoid paying the Georgian window tax of the time. (And not just out of a general dislike of the tax.) It also doesn't take into account the variety of the conditions that affect well-being especially health, after the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called "lockdown" period.