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Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows

What started as a fascination for the visuals of the city's bricked-up windows has evolved into an investigation into the role that 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 marked a turning point in the design of windows. This led to a shift in the design of windows and the development of sash windows.

What is a Window?

A window is a opening in a door, wall or roof to admit light and air. It is often covered with glass panes on the frame to allow opening and closing. A window can also be described as a window light, window aperture or window pane.

There are many kinds of windows, but the ones most associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open using a sliding mechanism. These windows can still be found in older houses however they are not as common in more recent constructions. Modern double glazed sash Windows are made of uPVC. They can be opened in the same way as traditional sash windows but they have more insulation.

Sash windows are very distinctive and were initially created as a result of the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were crowded together. They are distinguished by two sashes which slide up and down within the frame and then overlap when opened. The sash's movement is assisted by a system of that includes pulleys, weights, as well as counter balances that are concealed within the frame.

The sashes of a sash windows can be opened by sliding them open or cranked like a door. They can be double-hung, single-hung or casement. A casement window opens outward and can be fitted with one or more sashes, which are fixed in place or tilt to help with cleaning. There are also casement windows that are hung on hinges that allow the window to swing in and out, similar to an awning window, or can be opened using the crank mechanism.

It's easy to see why sash windows have become so popular over the centuries. However, they do have their disadvantages and one of the biggest issues is that it can be a challenge to ensure their security in the current security concerns. This is the reason we suggest that you think about replacing your old windows with the most current tilt and turn models that are more effective at keeping thieves out.

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 extinguished on Thursday, 6th September, only four-fifths of the city was left standing. It burned 13,000 houses, 52 Guild Halls, leaving thousands of people homeless. It is believed that the fire was started by an unnamed bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire quickly spread due to warehouses containing combustible materials and a strong easterly wind. About 16 people are believed to have died.

After the fire, King Charles II set about re-building the city. local window companies near me was commissioned to create the new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundations for a number of other churches throughout the city. He also widened the 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 have been part of London architecture for long periods of time. They are well-known because they provide a winning combination of traditional looks and modern technology. It took some time to get to where they are today.

The first sash window was invented in the 17th century. It included a vertical sliding bar and fixed sash. The window could be opened into the room, but not upwards into the sky. As time passed the sash's design modified to look more like a box window. The sash continues to be an extremely popular and widely used window in kinds of homes and apartments.

Jen Pedler chose a trompe l'oeil window in Smithfield, which depicts the return of a sailor back to his family. "I love it because it depicts a scene that could actually occur. It's a very atmospheric place and it's easy to imagine what would be going on in the room behind it," she said.

Andy Summers, an artist has captured more than 80 bricked up windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He says initially, he was intrigued by the design of the windows, but has since discovered that they have a significant historical significance.

Sash windows

As a city with a past as long and rich as London's, this capital is home to some amazing historic buildings. Sash windows are often associated with these historic buildings. They are often located in the London streets from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.

Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don't always give the best impression in contemporary times. They're known for letting draughts into and are difficult to open or close and causing their mechanisms to jam. But a new, double-glazed sash windows from Lomax + Wood can be a breath of fresh air, providing a high-quality timber solution that's easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.

It's unclear who invented the sash window However, English craftsmen hold the most claim to being responsible. Following the Great Fire of London, they are also credited for changing building regulations to substitute wider windows with narrower frames that were less prone to catch fire. These recessed frames created Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.

The sash is comprised of small panes held in muntins or glazing bars. In the past, windows were comprised of several panes due to the fact that glass was so expensive that if one broke it would be expensive to replace it. Today, the price of glass has fallen drastically, so windows are generally 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. Double-hung sashes are able to be opened from both the top and bottom. The two sashes are held in vertical grooves in the frame by a sash cable and counterbalanced by weights concealed inside the frame of the box.

Many of the sash windows in period buildings in London are over 100 years old and can start to suffer from problems like rattles and draughts. However we can replace them with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and meet stringent building regulations for thermal performance, security, and acoustic insulation.

Bricked up windows

While walking through the streets of the old England you might have noticed that windows are often replaced by bricks. This might seem odd, but it's for a good cause and it's also a source of cash. In 1696, a tax on windows was imposed on homeowners according to the number of windows they had in their homes. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so hated by people that they went to great lengths to avoid paying it.

double glass window repair was to construct their homes with a small number of windows, or without them altogether, while others would build them up. This window-blocking was short-lived and the 'daylight-robbery tax was finally eliminated in 1851. It's common to see bricked up windows 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.

Another way to know is to look for the stepped-back line in the brickwork which mimics the lines that the glass could have taken up on either side. Also, look to check 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 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 interested in learning more about these windows. The exhibit looks at the impact that light and air has on our health and wellbeing. It also explores some of the ways we can improve our health.


The exhibit has its flaws. Most notably, it states that "many" of the homes featured were bricked up to avoid the Georgian era window tax. (And double glazing repairs north london out of a general disdain for the tax.) The exhibition also fails to consider the complexity of health issues especially health, after the introduction of the tax on windows and during the so-called 'lockdown' period.

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