14 Cartoons On London Window To Brighten Your Day

Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows

What began as an interest in the city's bricked-up windows has turned into an examination of the role light and air play in wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photographs of windows that are blocked in the city.

The Great Fire of London marked an important turning point in the design of windows. This resulted in a change in the architecture and the introduction of the sash window.

What is a window?

A window is an opening constructed in a wall, door or roof to admit light and air. It is often constructed with frames and spanners of glass, which are mounted to allow opening and closing. A window can also be referred to as window light, window aperture or window pane.

Sash windows are the most popular type of window found in London. They are vertically opening windows that open using an opening mechanism that slides. They are still a feature in many older houses, however they are not as common in newer builds. Modern double glazed windows are typically made from uPVC and can be opened in the same way as traditional sash windows, but with much improved insulation.

Sash windows are distinct and they were originally developed as a result the narrow streets of London and the fact that buildings were huddled together. Two sashes move between the frame and are able to overlap when opened. The sash's movement is assisted by a set of weights and pulleys (known as counter balances) that can be concealed or visible in the frame.

The windows' sashes can be opened by either sliding them open or cranked like a door. They can be single hung, double hung or casement. Casement windows open outwards and may have one or more sashes, which are fixed in place or tilted to assist with cleaning. There are also casement windows that hang on hinges, allowing the window to swing in and out, like an awning window, or can be opened with a crank mechanism.

It is easy to see the reason why sash windows were so popular over the centuries. However, they aren't without their flaws. One of the major issues is that it can be difficult to keep them safe in the current security issues. We recommend that you replace your sash window that was in use with the most recent tilt-and-turn models that are more effective in keeping burglars away.

The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that spread through the city's center on the 2nd of September, 1666. The fire was extinguished on Thursday, 6th September, only four-fifths of the city left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. Many thousands of people were displaced. The fire is believed to have been started by the Pudding Lane bakery. The blaze spread quickly thanks to warehouses filled with explosive materials and a powerful easterly wind. About 16 people are believed to have died.

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 throughout the city. He also constructed wider roads and made sure that the buildings were constructed of brick instead of timber. In the end, the city was significantly less overcrowded.

Sash windows have been part of London architecture for long periods of time. They are popular because they offer a perfect blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took them a while to reach where they are today.

The first sash windows were created in the 17th century and included a vertically sliding bar and a fixed window sash. The window could be opened into the room but not upwards into the sky. Through time, the design of the sash changed and it became more of a box-shaped window. The sash is an extremely popular window that is used in many different styles of houses and apartments.

Jen Pedler chose a trompe the l'oeil windows in Smithfield depicts the return of a sailor his family. "I love it because it could happen." She added, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's easy to imagine what's going on in the room to the left."

Andy Summers, an artist photographer, has taken photos of more than 80 bricked up windows in the City of London as part of his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was drawn to the aesthetics, but later discovered that these windows have significant historical significance.

Sash windows

As a city with a past as long and rich as that of London, the capital is home to some stunning period structures. Sash windows are typically connected with historic homes. They are often located in the London streets, from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.

Despite their popularity, traditional sash windows don't always look the best in the present day. They're known for letting draughts in and being difficult to close or open and causing their mechanisms to jam. But a new, double-glazed sash window from Lomax + Wood can be refreshing offering a high-quality wood solution that is easy to operate and provides excellent energy efficiency.

It's unclear who invented the sash windows However, English craftsmen hold the most claim of being responsible. They are also credited with changing building regulations after the Great Fire, which led to windows being replaced with narrower frames that were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames are what gives Georgian and Victorian facades their distinctive look.

The sash itself is comprised of small panes of glass that are encased in glazing bars or muntins. In the past, windows were constructed of multiple panes, as glass was expensive. If one broke, replacing it would be expensive. Today, the cost of glass has fallen drastically, so windows are typically comprised of a single pane, with astragal bars inserted to give the appearance of smaller panes.

Sash windows can be opened either by sliding them or using the box sash mechanism. Double-hung sashes can be opened from both the top and bottom. The two sashes are secured in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cable and balanced by weights that are hidden within the box frame.

A lot of windows made of sash in historic buildings in London are more than 100 years old, and they can begin to show signs of issues like draughts and rattles. 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.

Bricked-up windows

You may have noticed a strange sight when you stroll through the streets of old England windows are sometimes replaced with bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's actually for a good cause and it's also a source of cash. Back in 1696, there was a tax on windows that was imposed, which levy homeowners more according to the number of windows their homes had. This tax, also known as 'daylight theft', was so detested by people that they went to great measures to avoid paying.

Some people chose to brick up their windows or build houses without windows at all. Fortunately this window-blocking trend was short-lived as the 'daylight robbery tax was eventually canceled in 1851. It's still common to see bricked-up windows along the sides of older structures and you can determine if they were originally windows by searching for a lintel and sill which match up to where the glass would have been.

Examine the step back line in the brickwork that mimics the lines of the glass on either side. Also, take a look to determine 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 likely that the window wasn't actually blocked off.

The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is worth visiting for those who are curious about the history of these windows. The exhibition examines the impact of light and air on our health and well-being.

The exhibition isn't without faults. Particularly, it claims that "many" of the properties that were featured were erected to avoid paying the Georgian window tax of the time. (And not only because of a general dislike of the tax.)  windows repair london  doesn't also take into account conditions that impact health, particularly health, following the introduction of the tax on windows and the so-called "lockdown" period.