Window taxes were introduced in England in 1696. However, it was clear this didn’t work and it was subsequently repealed in 1851. To avoid the tax, some houses from the period bricked-up their window spaces.
When visiting Swaffham, why not take a look at the wonderful example of this in the churchyard? You can almost imagine a scene from Black Adder!
(Baldrick) “Sire, you remember your latest brilliant, new money making scheme, taxes on windows?”
(Black Adder) “Ah yes, completely fool-proof, extremely lucrative and what’s more they can’t say they haven’t got windows – we can see them!”
(Baldrick) “Well Sire, it’s not going to work, they are bricking up their windows!”