| Please note that this website is in the process of being written and reflects an on-going enquiry into the subject. The content is subject to regular expansion and revision and does not reflect its final form. 03/02/2012 - Due to a change of server by the website host all the images have temporarily disappeared. These will be slowly restored to the site as and when I have the mental strength to do so |
| "…And if any one shall have windows looking towards the land of a neighbour, and although he and his predecessors have been long possessed of the view of the afore- said windows, nevertheless his neighbour may lawfully obstruct the view of those windows, by building opposite to them on his own ground, as he shall consider most expedient; except he who hath the windows can show any writing whereby neighbour may not obstruct the view of those windows" [The Assize of 1189] |
“...let all three sides be a double house, without thorough lights on the sides, that you may have rooms from the sun, both for forenoon and afternoon. Cast it also, that you may have rooms, both for summer and winter; shady for summer, and warm for winter. You shall have sometimes fair houses so full of glass, that one cannot tell where to become, to be out of the sun or cold. For inbowed windows, I hold them of good use (in cities, indeed, upright do better, in respect of the uniformity towards the street); for they be pretty retiring places for conference; and besides, they keep both the wind and sun off; for that which would strike almost through the room, doth scarce pass the window. But let them be but few, four in the court, on the sides only...” [Francis Bacon: On Building] |
All photographs this page © extraordinarybookofdoors, except 21, 29, 42 by W Galsworthy Davie (1905); 75 (Coleshill House); and drawings 9, 15, 16, 17, 23, 28, 35, 48, 49, 64; with 4, 11, 25, 33, 55, 66 by Anthonis van Wyngaerde (c.1554); 54 by John Thorpe; 67 by Inigo Jones (c.1619); XX Northumberland House, aka Suffolk House, by Wen. Hollar (c.1660); YY Venetian Window, by Batty Langley (1756) All text this site © extraordinarybookofdoors 2011 unless directly attributed All photographs this site © extraordinarybookofdoors unless otherwise identified or marked with asterisk* All drawings taken from publications now in the public domain (see References) |
email: npc@extraordinarybookofdoors.com | |