Take a walk through any of our country’s historic neighbourhoods, and it is impossible not to notice the numerous brick openings that were once windows on otherwise beautiful 18th-century homes. These openings seem to be the result of either an architectural mistake or renovation of some sort, but the truth behind these openings is that they represent the efforts of homeowners to avoid paying taxes.
In 1696, King William III introduced the Window Tax in England. Rather than taxing people based on their income, which would have required each individual to reveal his income to the government and potentially invade his privacy, King William III taxed the wealthy people in England based on the number of windows that adorned the exterior of their homes. The more windows that entered the home, the richer the individual was presumed to be, and so the higher the tax bill that they would receive from the government.
To avoid the fee, many homeowners covered their windows with brick or plaster to prevent anyone from viewing their properties. The resulting homes were dark, damp, and lacked ventilation altogether. The policy earned the nickname of “daylight robbery,” and led to the destruction of the symmetry of thousands of homes that were built during the same time period.
Despite the draconian nature of the law, it actually helped to save many of the historic sashes that would have otherwise been lost due to the renovation of these buildings.
These homes were constructed with wooden sash windows that have been preserved for centuries, due to the bricks that were placed over them. These bricks have helped to preserve the original craftsmanship of the 18th century. After the repeal of the brick tax in 1851, the bricks were removed from these homes, revealing the preserved craftsmanship of the 18th century within each home. For Sash Window Repair Kensington, visit https://www.sashwindowpreservation.co.uk/services/sash-window-repair/london/kensington/
Today, reopening these historic apertures is one of the most rewarding restoration projects that any homeowner can undertake. Beyond allowing natural light to flood into the old home, un-bricking a sash window also eliminates a 300-year-old tax on the home’s owners.
