Windows must not be obscured.

In England, windows marked "Ancient Lights" are allowed to receive natural light for life and no building is allowed to stand in front of them.

When visiting London, many tourists are curious about the words "Ancient Lights" below the windows of old brick houses. So, what do they mean?

Ancient Lights refers to windows that are always exposed to natural light, and neighboring houses are not allowed to be built to block this exposure.

Windows with the words Ancient Lights are considered very powerful. Photo: Amusing Planet.

Ancient Lights or Right to light is a property law in England. When a homeowner gains ownership of the Ancient Lights, the neighbors are not allowed to build houses or plant trees to block the light. They must always ensure that the windows of the neighboring houses always receive direct sunlight. If someone violates, the homeowner of the Ancient Lights will file a lawsuit and certainly, the neighbors will be in trouble. The condition for the windows to gain this inviolable right is that they must continuously receive direct sunlight and not be covered for 20 years.

Because of the power of these windows, their owners are also powerful. If you want to build a house next to the Ancient Lights, you will face opposition from your neighbors if they feel that your building is preventing them from getting “adequate light” through the windows.

The Ancient Lights Act dates back to 1663, but today it is based on a law that dates back to 1832. Photo: Amusing Planet.

One of the few places in London where you can find such windows is Albemarle Way, the Priory of St John just off Clerkenwell Road. You can also find these impregnable windows in places like Chinatown and Covent Garden, Newman Passage and in a bar near Goodge Street tube station.

Not only in the capital of England, these Ancient Lights windows are also seen by many tourists in Dorset, Kent and many places across the country.

According to VNE