14 Strange House Details From All Over the World That Actually Have an Explanation

3. Blocked-up windows, Great Britain

Blocked up windows in the old buildings of Great Britain are a good example of how ridiculous laws have affected a culture. In the 17th century, the British and the Scots paid taxes for the number of windows they had in their houses. At those times, only rich people could afford to have all their windows be glass. It can be compared with having yachts and private jets in modern times. This all happened because it was extremely expensive and difficult to produce glass.

If people didn’t want to pay the tax, they had to block up windows with bricks. Poor people, in turn, didn’t have any windows at all and had to live in complete darkness for generations.