5 Laws That Can Benefit The London Window Industry
Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started as a fascination with the windows in London that were bricked up has turned into an examination 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 was a significant moment in the history of window design. This resulted in a change in the architecture and also the creation of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is an opening in a wall, door or roof to allow light and air. It is often framed and spanned with panes of glass, which are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window could be referred to as an aperture for windows or window light pane.
Sash windows are the most popular type of window in London. They are vertically opening windows that open using the sliding mechanism. These windows are still found in older homes, but are less common in more recent constructions. Modern double-glazed sash Windows are made of uPVC. They can be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they have greater insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were created due to the narrow streets in London and the tightly packed buildings. Two Sashes move across the frame and are able to overlap when opened. The sash's movement is supported by a system of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or visible 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. A casement window opens outward and can be fitted with one or more sashes, which are fixed in place or tilted to help with cleaning. There are also a few casement windows that hang on hinges that permit the window to swing in and out, like an awning window, or which can be opened using a crank mechanism.
Sash windows can be a beautiful feature in any home and it is not difficult to understand why they were popular for centuries. They are not without their flaws, and one of them is that they can be difficult to secure in light of security concerns in the modern world. This is the reason why we suggest that you think about replacing your old windows with the latest 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 blaze that spread across the city's centre on September 2nd, 1666. When the fire was finally put out on the 6th, just four-fifths of the city was still standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Many thousands of people were homeless. It was believed that the fire started because of a bakery located in Pudding Lane. The fire spread quickly due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses as well as an intense easterly breeze. It is estimated that approximately 16 people were killed.
After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design a new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundation for dozens of other churches in the city. He also constructed wider roads and made sure that buildings were constructed from bricks instead of timber. In the end, the city was much less crowded.
window glass replacement london are an iconic part of London's architecture, and have been around for centuries. They are renowned because of their blend of traditional style and modern technology. However, it took them a while to reach where they are today.
The first sash windows were designed in the 17th Century and featured bars that were vertically sliding and a fixed window sash. The window could extend out onto the room but not into the sky. As time passed the sash's shape was modified to look more like an open-air box window. The sash continues to be a well-known and widely used window in different types of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor returning home to his family. "I love it because the scene could actually take place." It's a beautiful place and it's easy to imagine what might be going on in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers, an artist, has photographed 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 aesthetics of these windows but he has realized that they have an important historical significance.
Sash windows
As an area with a history as long and rich as that of London, the capital is home to some amazing historic buildings. And sash windows are a feature that's often synonymous with these historic homes. They are found in the London streets from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.
Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash window styles don't always look good in contemporary times. They are known for letting draughts in and are difficult to shut or open and causing their mechanisms to jam. A brand new double-glazed sash from Lomax + Wood is a breath of air. It offers a high-quality timber product that is easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
It's not known who invented the sash window However, English craftsmen have the strongest claim to be responsible. They are also credited with modifying building regulations after the Great Fire, which led to the replacement of larger windows with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames created Georgian and Victorian buildings their distinctive facades.
The sash consists of small panes that are held in muntins or glazing bars. Originally, windows were made of multiple panes because glass was costly. If one of them broke, replacing it would be expensive. The cost of glass has decreased dramatically, 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 through sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes can be opened from both sides. The two sashes are anchored in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cord and balanced by weights that are hidden within the box frame.
Many sash windows are more than 100-years-old and may be experiencing problems such as rattles and drafts. However they can be replaced with modern, double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and comply with stringent building regulations for thermal performance, security, and acoustic insulation.
Windows with bricks
When you stroll through the streets of old England You may have noticed that windows are often replaced with bricks. This might seem odd, but it's for a good cause and it involves money. Back in 1696, there was a window tax that was imposed on homeowners, which increased the amount according to the number of windows their homes had. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so hated by people that they went to extreme measures to avoid paying it.
One method was to construct their homes with a minimal number of windows, or without them altogether, while others would simply brick them up. The window-blocking trend was only temporary because the 'daylight-robbery fee was finally eliminated in 1851. However, it's not uncommon to see windows with bricks on the exterior of older buildings, and you can usually tell whether or not they were originally windows by searching for a lintel and sill which match up to where the glass would have been.
Check for the stepped back line in the brickwork, which resembles the lines of the glass on either side. Check to see whether all the bricks are the same 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 a visit for those who are interested in learning more about these windows. The exhibit looks at the impact that light and air have on our wellbeing and it also explores some of the ways we can improve our health.
The exhibit does have its faults, most notably in claiming that'many' of the properties that were featured had their windows blasted off to get around the Georgian window tax (and not just because of an overall dislike of the tax). It also fails to consider the complexity of health issues especially health, after the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called 'lockdown' period.