The Most Hilarious Complaints We've Seen About London Window
Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What began as a visual fascination in London's blasted-up windows has turned into an investigation into the role air and light play in our well-being. 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 moment in the history of window design. This resulted in a change in the design of windows and the development of sash windows.
What is a window?
A window is an opening constructed in a wall, door or roof to allow air and light. It is usually covered and spanned by panes of glass that are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window could also be described as a window aperture or window light, or window pane.
There are many different types of windows but the ones most often associated with London are sash windows. They are windows that open vertically and are opened using a sliding mechanism. They are still a common feature in many older houses, however they are not as common in the newer constructions. secondary glazing london -glazed sash Windows are made from uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows however, they provide more insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were created due to the narrow streets of London and the close-packed buildings. They are distinguished by two sashes that slide up and down inside the frame and overlap when they are open. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) which can be hidden or exposed within the frame.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them open or by cranking them up like doors. They can be single-hung, double-hung or casement. Casements open outwards, and can have sashes that are either fixed or tilted to aid in cleaning. There are also casement windows which are mounted on hinges, allowing the window to swing in or out, like an awning window, or can be opened by the crank mechanism.
A sash window is an attractive feature in any home and it's easy to see why they were so popular for centuries. They do have flaws, and one of them is that they are difficult to secure in light of the latest security concerns. This is why we recommend that you think about replacing your old sash windows with the most recent tilt and turn models that are more effective at keeping thieves out.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a massive conflagration that swept across the city's centre on September 2nd, 1666. When the fire was put out on Thursday, 6th September, only four-fifths of the city left standing. It destroyed 13,000 houses, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls and left thousands of people homeless. The fire was believed to be started by a Pudding Lane bakery. The fire quickly spread due to warehouses filled with explosive materials and a powerful easterly wind. It is estimated that approximately 16 people were 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 widened the streets and made sure buildings were constructed of brick rather than timber. In the end, the city was much less overcrowded.
Sash windows have been part of London architecture for many centuries. They are popular due to their perfect blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took a while for them to get to where they are today.
The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century. It included a vertical sliding bar and a fixed sash. This made the window extend to the outside of the room, but not to the sky. Over time the sash's design modified to look more like the shape of a box window. The sash remains an extremely popular and widely used window in many different kinds of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler chose a trompe of l'oeil window from Smithfield depicts the return of a sailor back to his family. "I like it because it depicts a scene that could actually 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, an artist, has photographed more than 80 bricked windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was interested in the aesthetics of the windows, but later realized that these windows have significant historical significance.
Sash windows
As a city with a past as long and rich as London's, this capital is home to stunning historic buildings. Sash windows are often synonymous with these historic properties. They can be found in the streets of London from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.
Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash window styles aren't always attractive in modern times. They're known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open or close and getting their mechanisms jammed up. A new double-glazed sash made by Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It's a premium timber product that is easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was developed by English craftsmen, but it isn't certain. Following the Great Fire of London, they were also credited with changing building regulations to replace larger windows with frames that were smaller, which were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames gives Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive appearance.
The sash is made up of tiny panes that are held in muntins or glazing bars. The windows were originally 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 sunk drastically, so windows are usually comprised of a single pane with astragal bars applied to create the appearance of smaller panes.
Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them or using an sash box mechanism. They can also be opened from both ends 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 hidden inside the frame of the box.
A lot of sash windows are 100 years old and may be exhibiting issues like rattles and draughts. However we can replace them with modern, double-glazed windows that are FENSA registered and meet stringent building regulations regarding thermal performance, security and acoustic insulation.
Windows with bricks
You may have noticed something odd when you stroll through the streets of the old England windows are often replaced with bricks. While this edit seems odd, there's a very solid reason for it and it's a matter of money. In 1696, a window tax was imposed on homeowners based on the number of windows that were in their homes. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so hated by people that they went to great measures to avoid paying.
One option was to construct their homes with a minimal amount of windows, or without them altogether, while others would simply brick them up. The window-blocking practice was a short-lived one, as the 'daylight-robbery tax was finally eliminated in 1851. However, it's not uncommon to see bricked-up windows along the sides 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 the place where the glass would have been.
Another method to determine this is to check for the stepped-back line within the brickwork, which resembles lines that the glass would have taken up on either side. Examine whether all the bricks are the same colour. If there is a gap in the brickwork where the window should be, it's likely that the glass never 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 exhibit looks at the impact that light and air has on our health and also explores ways we can improve our health.
The exhibit has its flaws. Particularly, it claims that "many" of the houses that were featured were erected to get around the Georgian window tax of the Georgian era. (And not only because of a general dislike for the tax.) It doesn't also consider the factors that affect wellbeing, especially health, following the introduction of window tax and the so-called "lockdown" period.