20 Questions You Need To To Ask About London Window Before Purchasing It
Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started out as a fascination for the visuals of London's bricked-up windows has become an investigation into the role light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition Daylight Robbery features 80 photos of the windows that are blocked up all over the city.
The Great Fire of London was a significant turning point in window design. This led to a shift in architecture and the introduction of sash window.
What is a window?
A window is an opening in a wall, door or roof to let in light and air. It is usually framed and spanned with panes of glass mounted to permit opening and closing. A window may also be referred to as a window aperture, window light or window pane.
Sash windows are the most common kind of window in London. These are vertically opening windows that open using an opening mechanism that slides. They are still used in older homes, but are less common in modern constructions. Modern double-glazed sash Windows are constructed from uPVC. They can be opened the same as traditional sash Windows, but they have greater insulation.
Sash windows are very distinctive and were initially invented as a result of the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two sashes move up and down in the frame and are able to overlap when opened. The sash's movement is made possible by a system of that includes pulleys, weights, as well as counter balances which can be hidden in the frame.
The sashes of a sash window can be opened by either sliding them open or cranking like doors. They can be single hang, double or casement. Casement windows open outward and can be fitted with one or more sashes that are held in place or tilted to assist with cleaning. Some casement windows are hinged and can swing in or out like an awning, or be opened using a crank.
It's not difficult to understand the reason why sash windows were so popular over the centuries. But, they have their disadvantages and one of the biggest issues is that it could be difficult to keep them safe in the current security issues. We recommend that you replace your old sash window with the most recent 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 spread across the city's centre on September 2nd, 1666. When the fire was extinguished on Thursday 6th only about four-fifths the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of people were left homeless. It is believed that the fire was started by an unnamed bakery in Pudding Lane. london doors and windows spread thanks to warehouses that were filled with combustible materials and a strong easterly wind. It is estimated that approximately 16 people were killed.
After the fire the king Charles II set about re-building the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to create a new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundation for numerous other churches in the city. He also built wider roads and ensured that buildings were constructed from bricks instead of timber. This meant that the city was much less overcrowded.
Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are popular due to their perfect blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took some time to reach where they are today.
The first sash window was designed in the 17th century. It featured an incline bar that was vertical and fixed sash. This made the window open out into the room, but not into the sky. Over the years the design of the sash was modified and it became more of a box-style window. The sash continues to be a well-known and widely used window in many different types of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe of l'oeil window from Smithfield depicts the return of a sailor to his family. "I enjoy it because it shows a scene that could actually occur. She added, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's simple to imagine what's happening in the room beyond it."
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 says initially, he was intrigued by the aesthetics of these windows, but has since found that they hold a significant historical significance.
Sash windows
As a city with a past as long and rich as London's, the capital is home to stunning period structures. Sash windows are typically associated with historical properties. From grand townhouses to simple terraces, they can be seen everywhere in the capital's streets.
Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don't always make the best impression in modern times. They are known for letting in draughts, being difficult to open or close, and often getting stuck. But a new, double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be an oasis of fresh air offering a high-quality wood solution that's easy to operate and offers great 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 for changing building regulations to replace larger windows with narrower frames which were less likely to catch fire. These frames that were recessed gave Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash itself consists of small panes of glass which are held in glazing bars or muntins. Originally, windows were made of several panes, since glass was costly. If one was damaged, replacing it would cost a lot. Today, the price of glass has fallen drastically, so windows are typically comprised of a single pane that has astragal bars attached to give the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened through sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes are able to be opened from both sides. The two sashes are held in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cable and counterbalanced by weights hidden inside the frame of the box.
Many sash windows are more than 100 years old and may be exhibiting issues like rattles and draughts. However they can be replaced with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and meet stringent building regulations regarding thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Windows that are clogged
While walking through the streets of the old England you might have noticed that windows are often replaced with bricks. This might seem odd, but it's a good cause and it's a matter of money. In 1696, a window tax was imposed on homeowners in proportion to the number of windows they had in their homes. Known as the 'daylight robbery This tax was so detested that people went to extraordinary lengths to avoid it.
Some people decided to block their windows or build homes with no windows at all. The window-blocking trend was only temporary and the 'daylight-robbery tax' was finally removed in 1851. However, it's not uncommon to see bricked-up windows along the sides of older structures, and you can usually identify if they were originally windows by looking for a lintel or sill which match up to the place where the glass would have been.
Check for the lines of stepped back in the brickwork that mimics the lines of the glass on either side. Examine if all the bricks have the same color. If there is a gap where the window should be, it's 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 interested in learning more about these windows. The exhibition takes a look at the effect light and air has on our health and also explores ways to improve our health.
The exhibition has its faults, most notably in the claim that 'a lot' of the houses included had their windows smashed off to avoid the Georgian-era window tax (and not just due to an overall dislike of the tax). It also fails to consider the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing and health, especially after the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called "lockdown" period.