Have you ever wondered why some beautiful old buildings, particularly Georgian houses, have bricked up windows?
These may be a hangover from the Window Tax, which was levied on property owners based on the number of windows in a building.
- How old is your house? These are the period features to look to uncover your home’s history
- Georgian era guide: When was it and the best historic places to visit in Britain
What was the Window Tax?
Introduced in 1696, the Window Tax was supposed to be progressive: wealthier people would likely have larger houses with more windows so would pay more than poorer folk in smaller houses. Alas, the window to Hell was glazed with good intentions.
The Window Tax didn’t work as it was intended, especially in cities. The biggest issue was that many poor people lived in large properties that had been subdivided into numerous crowded rented rooms. They were at the mercy of the property owner, who could pass on the tax burden in the form of heavier rents. The landlord could also reduce his taxes by bricking up windows, leaving his tenants in the dark.
Worse still, the law failed to define what constituted a window so ventilation gratings were often included in the tax calculation – and duly blocked up to save money. The result was that poor tenants suffered from bad air quality and lack of light; it became a major public health issue, with epidemics of typhus, cholera and smallpox.
Though the negative effects were well known, the tax was only abolished after a campaign in the mid-19th century.
Discover more about UK history
- Why one of Britain's grandest castles was torn down by its own family: The strange story of Lowther Castle
- A country estate Jane Austen used to visit is now for sale – and it’s yours for just £58 million
- The last castle to be built in England looks like it was created on Minecraft: Castle Drogo, a modern medieval oddity
- Best National Trust houses: Visit a real-life Downton Abbey at one of England’s top majestic manors
Top image: Georgian buildings in Bath that have bricked up windows. Credit: Getty
