Ancient Lights – the right to daylight

You've probably spotted some strange signs here and which read ANCIENT LIGHTS such as this one in Newman Passage:I am befuddled as to why the two words are rendered in different letterform – ANCIENT (SANS) / LIGHTS (SERIF)But, what do signs like this signify? A friend suggested that perhaps this was an advertisement for old shop where oil lamps or candles could be purchased. I explained, no, signs like this signify that the owner of the building is aware of a 'right to light' law which prevent the construction of tall buildings adjacent to their property that would effectively block out any available daylight. The word 'ancient' alludes to it being an old law.You might well have spotted another good example in the Fitzrovia zone behind Goodge Street Station in Whitfield Street:There is a trio of Ancient Lights signs on the north facing walls of Albermarle Way, Clerkenwell, best viewed from the garden at St John's church. I was lucky to get up close to the signs during Clerkenwell…