Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up WindowsWhat started as a visual fascination in the city's bricked-up windows has evolved into an investigation into the role that air and light play in our well-being. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 images of windows that have been blocked in the city.The Great Fire of London was a significant moment in the history of window design. This led to a shift in the architecture and also the creation of sash windows.What is a Window?A window is a small opening which is built into the wall, door or roof for the purpose of admitting light and air. It is often covered and spanned by panes of glass mounted to permit opening and closing. A window can also be described as windows, window lights, window aperture or window pane.There are many different types of windows but the ones that are most often associated with London are sash windows. These are vertically opening windows that open with an opening mechanism that slides. london glass repair are still a common feature in many older houses, however they are not as common in newer builds. window glass repair london -glazed sash Windows are constructed from uPVC. They are able to be opened the same as traditional sash windows but they have much better 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. They are distinguished by two sashes which slide up and down within the frame, and they overlap when opened. The sash's movement is supported by a system of pulleys and weights (known as counter balances) that can be concealed or visible in the frame.Sash windows can be opened by sliding them open or by cranking them as doors. They can be single hang, double or casement. A casement opens outwards and has sashes that can be fixed in place or tilted to help with cleaning. Some casement windows are hinged and can swing in and out like an awning or be opened by turning the crank.It is easy to see why sash windows have become so popular over the centuries. They are not without their shortcomings, and one of them is that they are difficult to secure in the light of modern security concerns. We recommend that you replace your old sash window with the most recent tilt-and-turn models that are more effective in keeping burglars from entering your home.The Great Fire of LondonThe Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that spread through the city centre on September 2nd, 1666. By the time the fire was slowed down on Thursday, 6th September, only four-fifths of the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of people were left homeless. The fire was believed to be the result of a Pudding Lane bakery. The flame quickly spread thanks to warehouses that were filled with material that was combustible and a strong easterly wind. About 16 people are believed to have been killed.After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to create the new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundation for a number of other churches across the city. He also constructed wider streets and made sure that buildings were constructed from brick rather than timber. The city was less crowded as a result of the fire.Sash windows have been part of London architecture for long periods of time. They are popular because of their blend of traditional design and modern technology. It took them a while to reach where they are today.The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century and included an incline bar that was vertical and a fixed sash. The window could be opened outwards into the room, but not upwards towards the sky. Over the years the design of the sash was altered and it was transformed into an open-plan window. The sash remains an extremely popular and widely used window in different kinds of houses and apartments.Jen Pedler chose a trompe of l'oeil window from Smithfield, which depicts the return of a sailor to his family. " london glass repair am awestruck by it because the scene could occur." She added, "It's a very atmospheric space and it's simple for me to imagine what's happening in the room to the left."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 that he was initially interested in the aesthetics of these windows but he has realized that they hold a significant historical significance.Sash windowsThe capital of the United States, with its rich and lengthy history is home to a number of stunning period structures. Sash windows are often connected with historic homes. They are located in the streets of London from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.Despite their popularity in the past, traditional sash windows styles don't always look appealing in modern times. They're known for letting in draughts and being difficult to open and close, and often getting jammed up. A new double-glazed sash made by Lomax + Wood is a breath of fresh air. It's a top-quality timber product that is easy to operate and offers great energy-efficiency.The sash window was created by English craftsmen, but it is not known for sure. After the Great Fire of London, they were also credited with changing building regulations to replace wider windows with frames that were narrower, that were less prone to catch fire. These frames that were recessed provided Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.The sash itself consists of a few glass panes held within glazing bars, or muntins. Originally, windows were made of multiple panes, as glass was expensive. If one of them broke replacing it would cost a lot. Today, the cost of glass has sunk dramatically so the windows are usually comprised of a single pane that has astragal bars attached to give the appearance of smaller panes.Sash windows can be opened by sliding or using the box sash. They can also be opened from both the top and bottom 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.Many of the windows made of sash in historic buildings in London are over 100 years old and may start to exhibit issues like draughts and rattles. We can replace them however, using double-glazed sash Windows that are FENSA registered, and have strict building standards in terms of thermal performance, security, and acoustic isolation.Bricked-up windowsYou might have noticed a peculiar sight when you stroll through the streets of the old England windows are sometimes replaced with bricks. While this edit seems odd, there's a very good reason behind it, and it's related to money. In 1696, a tax on windows was imposed on homeowners based on the number of windows they had in their homes. The tax, also known as 'daylight theft' was so resented by the public that they went to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying it.Some people chose to brick up their windows or build homes without windows. The window-blocking trend was only temporary because the 'daylight-robbery fee' was finally removed in 1851. It's common to see windows that are bricked up on the sides of older buildings. You can determine if these windows are windows by taking a look at the lintel or sill that is matched to the original glass.Another method to determine this is to check for the stepped-back lines in the brickwork which mimics the lines that the glass could have taken up on either side. Look to see if all the bricks have the same color. If there is a gap where the window should be, it is likely that the glass was never blocked.The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is worth visiting for those interested in learning more about these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and well-being.The exhibition has its faults, notably in the claim that 'a lot' of the homes featured had their windows bricked off to avoid the Georgian-era window tax (and not just due to an overall dislike of the tax). The exhibition also fails to consider the complexity of conditions which affect wellbeing, particularly health, following the introduction of the window tax and during the so-called "lockdown" period.