Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started out as a visual fascination in London's bricked-up windows has become an examination of the role air and light contribute to our well-being. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photos of blocked-up windows in the city.
The Great Fire of London was a significant turning point in window design. This led to a change in the architecture and also the creation of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is a hole which is built into a door, wall or roof with the intention of letting light and air in. It is usually covered with glass panes on the frame to permit opening and closing. A window can also be referred to as window light or window aperture, or a window pane.
Sash windows are the most popular kind of window company london in London. These are windows that open vertically that open using an opening mechanism that slides. They are still a feature in many older properties but they are not as prevalent in modern constructions. Modern double glazing london-glazed sash windows are constructed from upvc windows in london. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they have greater insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive and were first developed as a result the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were crowded together. They are distinguished by two sashes that slide up and down inside the frame and then overlap when open. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of weights and pulleys (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or exposed within the frame.
The windows' sashes can be opened by sliding them open or cranking like a door. They can be single hung, double hung or casement. A casement window can open outwards and may have one or more sashes that are fixed in place or tilt to aid in cleaning. Certain casement windows hinge and can swing in or out like an awning, or be opened using the crank.
It's easy to see why sash windows have become so popular over the centuries. But, they have their flaws. One of the main problems is that it could be difficult to keep them safe against modern security concerns. We recommend that you replace your old sash windows with the latest 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 blaze that destroyed the city of London on the 2nd of 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 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls, leaving thousands of people homeless. It is believed that the fire was started by the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire spread quickly due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as a strong easterly breeze. About 16 people are believed to have been 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 constructed wider streets and made sure that buildings were constructed from brick rather than timber. The city was less overcrowded as a result of the fire.
Sash windows are a classic part of london window and door's architecture and have been in use for hundreds of years. They are renowned because of their blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took them a while to get to where they are today.
The first sash window was invented in the 17th century and featured a vertical sliding bar and an sash that was fixed. The window could open to the outside of the room, but not into the sky. Over time the sash's design modified to look more like an open-air box window. The sash is still 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 enjoy it because it portrays the possibility of a scene to take place. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what could 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 claims that he was initially interested in the aesthetics of these windows but he has realized that they have a significant historical significance.
Sash windows
As an area with a history as long and rich as London's, the capital is home to some amazing historic buildings. Sash windows are often associated with these historic homes. From aristocratic townhouses to simple terraces you can see them all over the streets of the capital city.
Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don't always look the best in the present day. They're known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open or close and getting their mechanisms blocked. A new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It offers a high-quality timber product that's easy-to-operate and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was invented by English craftsmen, but it is not known for sure. They are also credited with changing building regulations following the Great Fire, which led to the replacement of larger windows with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames provided Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash is comprised of small panes which are held in muntins, or glazing london (you could try here) bars. The windows were originally made up of multiple panes since glass was so expensive that should one break it would cost a lot to replace it. Today, the price of glass has sunk drastically, so windows are usually comprised of a single pane that has astragal bars attached to create the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding them, or using a box sash mechanism. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom that is referred to as a double-hung sash. The two sashes are secured in vertical grooves inside the frame by a sash cord and counterbalanced by weights concealed inside the frame of the box.
A lot of sash windows are 100-years-old and may be experiencing issues like rattles and draughts. However we can replace them with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and meet stringent building regulations regarding thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Windows with bricks
While walking through the streets of old England You may have observed that windows are occasionally replaced with bricks. This may sound odd, but it's for an excellent cause, Glazing london and it involves money. In 1696, there was a window tax that was imposed, which levy homeowners more based on how many windows their homes had. Known as the 'daylight robbery the tax was so detested that people went to great lengths to avoid it.
Some people decided to brick up their windows or construct homes with no windows at all. The window-blocking trend was only temporary because the 'daylight-robbery fee was eventually eliminated in 1851. However, it's still common to see windows with bricks on the exterior of older buildings and you can identify if they were originally windows by looking for a lintel and sill which match up to the place where the glass would have been.
Look for the stepped back line in the brickwork that resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Examine whether all the bricks have the identical colour. If there is a gap where the window should be, it is likely that the glass never blocked.
The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is worth visiting for those interested in knowing more about these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibition isn't without faults. Particularly, it states that "many" of the homes featured were bricked up to avoid the Georgian window tax of the time. (And this isn't just because of a general disdain for the tax.) It also doesn't take into account the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing, particularly health, following the introduction of the window tax, and during the so-called 'lockdown' period.
What started out as a visual fascination in London's bricked-up windows has become an examination of the role air and light contribute to our well-being. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photos of blocked-up windows in the city.
The Great Fire of London was a significant turning point in window design. This led to a change in the architecture and also the creation of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is a hole which is built into a door, wall or roof with the intention of letting light and air in. It is usually covered with glass panes on the frame to permit opening and closing. A window can also be referred to as window light or window aperture, or a window pane.
Sash windows are the most popular kind of window company london in London. These are windows that open vertically that open using an opening mechanism that slides. They are still a feature in many older properties but they are not as prevalent in modern constructions. Modern double glazing london-glazed sash windows are constructed from upvc windows in london. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they have greater insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive and were first developed as a result the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were crowded together. They are distinguished by two sashes that slide up and down inside the frame and then overlap when open. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of weights and pulleys (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or exposed within the frame.
The windows' sashes can be opened by sliding them open or cranking like a door. They can be single hung, double hung or casement. A casement window can open outwards and may have one or more sashes that are fixed in place or tilt to aid in cleaning. Certain casement windows hinge and can swing in or out like an awning, or be opened using the crank.
It's easy to see why sash windows have become so popular over the centuries. But, they have their flaws. One of the main problems is that it could be difficult to keep them safe against modern security concerns. We recommend that you replace your old sash windows with the latest 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 blaze that destroyed the city of London on the 2nd of 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 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls, leaving thousands of people homeless. It is believed that the fire was started by the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire spread quickly due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as a strong easterly breeze. About 16 people are believed to have been 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 constructed wider streets and made sure that buildings were constructed from brick rather than timber. The city was less overcrowded as a result of the fire.
Sash windows are a classic part of london window and door's architecture and have been in use for hundreds of years. They are renowned because of their blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took them a while to get to where they are today.
The first sash window was invented in the 17th century and featured a vertical sliding bar and an sash that was fixed. The window could open to the outside of the room, but not into the sky. Over time the sash's design modified to look more like an open-air box window. The sash is still 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 enjoy it because it portrays the possibility of a scene to take place. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what could 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 claims that he was initially interested in the aesthetics of these windows but he has realized that they have a significant historical significance.

As an area with a history as long and rich as London's, the capital is home to some amazing historic buildings. Sash windows are often associated with these historic homes. From aristocratic townhouses to simple terraces you can see them all over the streets of the capital city.
Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don't always look the best in the present day. They're known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open or close and getting their mechanisms blocked. A new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It offers a high-quality timber product that's easy-to-operate and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was invented by English craftsmen, but it is not known for sure. They are also credited with changing building regulations following the Great Fire, which led to the replacement of larger windows with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames provided Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash is comprised of small panes which are held in muntins, or glazing london (you could try here) bars. The windows were originally made up of multiple panes since glass was so expensive that should one break it would cost a lot to replace it. Today, the price of glass has sunk drastically, so windows are usually comprised of a single pane that has astragal bars attached to create the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding them, or using a box sash mechanism. They can also be opened at both the top and bottom that is referred to as a double-hung sash. The two sashes are secured in vertical grooves inside the frame by a sash cord and counterbalanced by weights concealed inside the frame of the box.
A lot of sash windows are 100-years-old and may be experiencing issues like rattles and draughts. However we can replace them with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and meet stringent building regulations regarding thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Windows with bricks
While walking through the streets of old England You may have observed that windows are occasionally replaced with bricks. This may sound odd, but it's for an excellent cause, Glazing london and it involves money. In 1696, there was a window tax that was imposed, which levy homeowners more based on how many windows their homes had. Known as the 'daylight robbery the tax was so detested that people went to great lengths to avoid it.
Some people decided to brick up their windows or construct homes with no windows at all. The window-blocking trend was only temporary because the 'daylight-robbery fee was eventually eliminated in 1851. However, it's still common to see windows with bricks on the exterior of older buildings and you can identify if they were originally windows by looking for a lintel and sill which match up to the place where the glass would have been.
Look for the stepped back line in the brickwork that resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Examine whether all the bricks have the identical colour. If there is a gap where the window should be, it is likely that the glass never blocked.
The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is worth visiting for those interested in knowing more about these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibition isn't without faults. Particularly, it states that "many" of the homes featured were bricked up to avoid the Georgian window tax of the time. (And this isn't just because of a general disdain for the tax.) It also doesn't take into account the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing, particularly health, following the introduction of the window tax, and during the so-called 'lockdown' period.