SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Now I think this might be a stinker. The sign carries the strange message 'Ancient Lights'.

Is this on Kirkstall road perhaps?

Phill_d wrote: Is this on Kirkstall road perhaps? No Phill, it isn't.( Merry Xmas by the by!!)    

I'd say this is on a low road. With your interest in pubs I didn't have you down as a religious man drapesy, but maybe I'm wrong!Hunslet Baptist Tabernacle?

Wow - spot on Rikj!The ironic thing is that 'Ancient lights' meant that windows couldn't be blocked - but this window is almost impossible to get to and boarded up on the inside.

drapesy wrote: Wow - spot on Rikj!The ironic thing is that 'Ancient lights' meant that windows couldn't be blocked - but this window is almost impossible to get to and boarded up on the inside. Perhaps that's the point. Could they be preserving their ancient right to light in case they ever choose to use the windows again?

Bramley4woods wrote: drapesy wrote: Wow - spot on Rikj!The ironic thing is that 'Ancient lights' meant that windows couldn't be blocked - but this window is almost impossible to get to and boarded up on the inside. Perhaps that's the point. Could they be preserving their ancient right to light in case they ever choose to use the windows again? Did not the term " Ancient Lights " also have a connection with a one-time tax on windows ? Glass windows which had been in situ for a specified length of time ( ie " ancient " ) were not subject to the then-new tax . I might easily be wrong ; this is a very old and vague memory !

This is what you are referring to,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_taxIf you see buildings of a certain age with windows bricked up, its becase of this, usually the bricked up windows were the smaller and less significant ones