While the phrase ‘Daylight Robbery’ was not recorded before the start of the 20th century, it is generally accepted that it refers to the window tax introduced in the reign of King William III in 1696.
The principle of the tax was that all properties paid a flat rate of two shillings, but those houses with more than ten windows paid four shillings, and those over twenty windows paid eight shillings. This tax imposed more duty on the more prosperous, whose houses had the most windows.
Inevitably the tax was unpopular, hence the phrase ‘daylight robbery’ and, with admirable ingenuity many householders bricked up windows to reduce their level of taxation.
The tax was not repealed until 1851 and bricked up windows can still be seen in many old buildings around Britain.
