List of existing model dwellings explained

Model dwellings were buildings or estates constructed, mostly during the Victorian era, along philanthropic lines to provide decent living accommodation for the working class. They were typically erected by private model dwellings companies and usually with the aim of making a return on investment, hence the description of the movement as "five per cent philanthropy."[1] As such they were forerunners of modern-day municipal housing.

This is a list of still-standing model dwellings, organised by builder. Most of these companies are now defunct; a few, such as the Peabody Trust are still operating and building new accommodation, and others have been subsumed by larger firms. This list covers urban development on the principle of "five per cent philanthropy"; for communities built to house workers for a particular trade or employer, see model village or company town.

Artizans, Labourers & General Dwellings Company

The Artizans' Company (ALGDC) was established in 1867 by William Austin, becoming one of the largest of the model dwellings companies in the late Victorian era. It was best known for its large, low-rise, suburban estates in London. It was later subsumed into Sun Life Financial.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Noel Park[2] Wood Green, London 1882–1929
Pinnerwood Park[3] Pinner, London 1932–1935
Queen's Park[4] Kilburn, London 1874–1881
Shaftesbury Park[5] Battersea, London 1872–1877
Leigham Court[6] Streatham, London 1889–1928
Crawford Buildings[7] Marylebone, London 1893
Wendover Court (formerly East Street Buildings)[8] Marylebone, London 1890-1891
Seymour Buildings[9] Marylebone, London 1889

Chester Cottage Improvement Company

The Chester Cottage Improvement Company was founded in 1892,[10] and was a particular concern of the Duke of Westminster.[11]

East End Dwellings Company

See main article: East End Dwellings Company. The EEDC was founded by Samuel Barnett and others in 1882 in order to provide particularly for the area that is now the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Museum House[15] Burnham Road, Bethnal Green, London 1888
Dunstan Houses[16] Stepney Green, London 1899
Thornhill Houses[17] Thornhill Road, Barnsbury, London 1902
Whidborne Buildings[18] Kings Cross, London 1890s

Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company

The Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company (ECBC) was founded by a group of stonemasons in Edinburgh in 1861. By 1872 they had built nearly 1,000 houses in six parts of Edinburgh and Leith,[19] commonly known as colony houses.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Abbeyhill Colonies[20] London Road, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh
Dalry Colonies[21] Dalry, Edinburgh 1868–1870
Shandon, Edinburgh 1883–1904
Glenogle Road, Stockbridge, Edinburgh 1861–1867

Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company

See main article: Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Stepney Green Court[22] Stepney Green, London 1896
Navarino Mansions[23] 1903-5
Mocatta House[24] Brady Street, Whitechapel, London 1905
Evelina Mansions[25] Camberwell, London 1900
Rebecca House[26] Mile End, London 1933

Improved Industrial Dwellings Company

See main article: Improved Industrial Dwellings Company. The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (IIDC) was founded by the stationer (and later Lord Mayor) Sir Sydney Waterlow in 1863.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Asmun's Hill cottages Hampstead Garden Suburb, London 1909
Clarendon Buildings[27] Balderton Street, Westminster, London 1872
Cobden Buildings[28] King's Cross Road, London 1865
Cromwell Building[29] Redcross Way, Camberwell, London 1864
Derby Buildings[30] Wicklow Street, Camden Town, London c.1865
Grosvenor Estate[31] (now operated by Peabody Trust) Brownhart Gardens, Mayfair, London 1886–1982
Leopold Buildings[32] Bakers Rents, Poplar, London 1872
Stanley Buildings[33] Midland Road, Camden Town, London 1865
Tower Buildings[34] Brewhouse Lane, Wapping, London 1864
Waterlow Court[35] [36] Hampstead Garden Suburb, London 1907–1909

Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes

See main article: Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes. The MAIDIC was the first company to be formed for the specific purpose of providing model homes, in 1844. It built mainly within London.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Albert Cottages[37] Stepney, London 1858
Alexandra Cottages[38] [39] Penge, London 1866–1868
Gibson Gardens[40] [41] Stoke Newington, London 1880
Howard House[42] [43] Deal Street, Stepney, London 1864
Victoria Cottages[44] Woodseer Street, Stepney, London 1864

Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company

See main article: Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company. The Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (NUTIIDC) was founded by James Hall[45] in 1859.[46]

Peabody Trust

See main article: Peabody Trust.

The Peabody Trust was set up following a huge gift for the poor of London from the banker George Peabody in 1862.[48] It became one of the largest providers of model housing for the working classes.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Abbey Orchard Street Estate[49] Victoria, London 1880s
Bethnal Green Peabody Estate[50] Cambridge Crescent, Bethnal Green, London 1910
Coleshill Flats[51] Mozart Terrace, Westminster, London 1871
Victoria, London 1922
Islington Peabody Estate[52] [53] Greenman Street, Islington, London 1864–6
Langley Lane, Vauxhall, London 1900
Lawrence Street, Chelsea, London 1870
Victoria, London 1880s
Blackfriars Road, Bermondsey, London 1871
Peabody Avenue, Pimlico, London 1876
Elf Row, Poplar, London 1866
Glamis Street, Stepney, London 1866
Spitalfields Peabody Dwellings[54] [55] Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London 1863–4
Lordship Lane, Tottenham, London 1907
John Fisher Street, Whitechapel, London 1880s
Finsbury, London 1883
Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London

Pilrig Model Dwellings Company

This company was founded in Edinburgh in 1849 and built the earliest model dwellings (see colony houses) in Edinburgh. The work of the PMDC was an inspiration to Henry Roberts, who went on to become one of the most prolific architects of model housing.[56]

Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes

See main article: Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes. The SICLC was one of the earliest model dwellings companies. It grew out of the Labourer's Friend Society into a housing provider in 1844 and built a number of properties in London, most of which no longer exist.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction
Dimsdale Street (built to SICLC pattern for the Great Exhibition) 1852
Parnell House[59] 1849
Turner Court[60] [61] 1862

Others

A number of other schemes were built by private individuals or other concerns.

Name of dwelling Location Date of construction Notes
Marmion Road, Portsmouth 1851 Gothic style. Architect Thomas Ellis Owen. Comprises 24 individual dwellings and one shop on the Friary Close frontage.[62]
New Court[63] Streatley Place, Hampstead, London 1854 Block of 30 flats, built for Hugh Jackson, solicitor.
Edinburgh, Scotland 1854–1860 Built by Sir James Gowans[64] for "the better class of mechanics and others."[65] Modelled on the Pilrig cottages.

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=yCQ9AAAAIAAJ&q=five+per+cent+philanthropy Tarn, JN (1973) Five Per Cent Philanthropy: an account of housing in urban areas between 1840 and 1914 London:CUP
  2. Welch, Caroline (2006). Noel Park: A Social and Architectural History. London: Haringey Council Libraries, Archives & Museum Services
  3. http://harrow-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/conservation_policy/pinner_conservation_area/pinnerwood_park_estate?pointId=1221034196091 Harrow Council – Pinnerwood Park Estate Initial Consultation – Character Appraisal and Management Strategy
  4. http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/spgs/publications/Queens%20Park%20Estate.pdf City of Westminster: The Queen's Park Estate Design Guide
  5. http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/downloads/download/444/shaftesbury_park_estate_conservation_area Wandsworth Council – conservation area documentation
  6. http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/54156052-DF1A-431D-8590-4BEDC8C8EFCF/0/LeighamCourtEstateSPG2001.pdf Lambeth Council conservation guidelines
  7. Marylebone Mercury and West London Gazette, 18 May 1901, p.6
  8. Web site: Wendover Court . Wendover Court Management . 2022-01-19.
  9. Web site: Westminster Council, Portman Estate Conservation Area Map . Westminster.gov.uk . 2022-01-19.
  10. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=19219 Lewis, C.P. and Thacker, A.T. (eds.) "Topography 900-1914: Victorian and edwardian, 1840-1914" in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 part 1: The City of Chester: General History and Topography (2003), pp. 229-238. Date accessed: 1 April 2011
  11. Savage, 'Working Class Standards of Living', 40; G. Huxley, Victorian Duke: Life of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, First Duke of Westminster, 146
  12. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-469882-6-10-chester British Listed Buildings
  13. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-469883-11-12-and-13-chester British Listed Buildings
  14. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-469884-14-15-and-16-chester British Listed Buildings
  15. Ann. Rep. of M.B.W. H.C. 157, p. 105 (1887), lxxi; ibid. H.C. 159, p. 13 (1888), lxxxvii; ibid. H.C. 326, p. 141 (1889), lxvi; G.L.R.O., MBW 2459/8. From: "Bethnal Green: Building and Social Conditions from 1876 to 1914" in Baker, T.F.T. (1998) A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 11: Stepney, Bethnal Green pp. 126-132 Date accessed: 1 April 2011
  16. http://moderngov.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Published/C00000320/M00002035/AI00013789/ConsAreasCAsMGsAdoptionAppxC11StepneyGreen.pdf London Borough of Tower Hamlets: Stepney Green Conservation Area
  17. http://www.thtara.org/ Thornhill Houses Tenants and Residents Association
  18. http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset?asset_id=1373321 London Borough of Camden: King's Cross Voices
  19. http://rls.org.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-001-371-L Resources for Learning in Scotland
  20. http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=299209 Scotland's Places
  21. http://www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/edinburgh_colonies.htm Edinburgh Architecture
  22. http://www.ids.org.uk/Stepney-green-court.html IDS
  23. http://www.ids.org.uk/Navarino-mansions.html IDS
  24. http://www.ids.org.uk/Mocatta-house.html IDS
  25. http://www.ids.org.uk/Evelina-mansions.html IDS
  26. http://www.ids.org.uk/Rebecca-house.html IDS
  27. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-433531-clarendon-buildings-and-attached-railing British Listed Buildings
  28. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-491070-cobden-buildings-128-islington British Listed Buildings
  29. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-471225-cromwell-building-numbers-5-24-and-attac British Listed Buildings
  30. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-478561-derby-lodge-formerly-derby-buildings-fla British Listed Buildings
  31. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41887 British History Online
  32. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-441467-leopold-buildings-with-stores-and-attach British Listed Buildings
  33. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-478165-stanley-buildings-flats-numbers-1-20-cam British Listed Buildings
  34. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-441612-tower-buildings-stepney British Listed Buildings
  35. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-198945-waterlow-court-hendon British Listed Buildings
  36. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/people-and-places/womens-history/buildings-that-celebrate-working-women/waterlow-court/ English Heritage
  37. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-205921-albert-cottages-19-26-stepney British Listed Buildings
  38. http://www.alexandracottages.co.uk/history-and-conservation/history Alexandra Cottages Residents Association
  39. http://www.bromley.gov.uk/UDP/local_plan/written/cpt19.htm London Borough of Bromley
  40. The Gibson Gardens History and Cookbook, Centerprise Trust, 1984
  41. Robson, D. (1998) Gaslight on the Cobble: Family life in Gibson Gardens and Stoke Newington 1923-1955 Paz Publications
  42. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50179#s10 British History Online
  43. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-205923-howard-house-stepney British Listed Buildings
  44. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-489913-victoria-cottages-131-145-stepney British Listed Buildings
  45. http://www.arcadja.com/auctions/en/macklin_thomas_eyre/artist/75950/ Arcadja Auctions, portrait of the founder
  46. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-305011-industrial-workers-dwellings-1-60-newcas British Listed Buildings
  47. http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=5246&crit=worker&large=1 English Heritage
  48. http://www.peabody.org.uk/about-us/history.aspx Peabody Trust
  49. http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/Peabody%20Conservation%20Area%20consultation.pdf City of Westminster Conservation Area Consultation
  50. http://www.peabody.org.uk/your-estate/your-estate-detail-page.aspx Peabody Trust
  51. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-209612-nos-1-3-5-to-22-23-25-and-27-to-44-coles British Listed Buildings
  52. Web site: Peabody Trust . 31 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084008/http://www.peabody.org.uk/about-us/history/the-early-years-1865-1875.aspx . 21 July 2011 . dead .
  53. Book: Cosh, Mary . The Squares of Islington: Part II: Islington Parish . Islington Archaeology & History Society . Islington . 0950753262 . 133–6 .
  54. Book: P.A. . Bezodis . W. . Ison . Commercial Street . Survey of London . 27 . Spitalfields and Mile End New Town . London . London County Council . 1957 . 256–64 .
  55. This was the Peabody Trust's first block of dwellings, but was sold in the late 1970s (being much smaller than the later estates, and outdated in its facilities), and is now a private residential block named The Cloisters.
  56. Roberts, H. (1861) Examples of Efforts in Scotland to Provide Improved Dwellings for the Working Classes. Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science – p779ff
  57. Pilrig Model Dwellings Company Edinburgh Architecture
  58. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-45961-1-28-inclusive-nos-shaw-s-street-1-10-inc British Listed Buildings
  59. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-478225-parnell-house-camden-town British Listed Buildings
  60. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-387682-model-dwellings-kingston-upon-hull British Listed Buildings
  61. http://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/k-victorian/city/turner-court/turner_court.htm HullWebs
  62. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-491553-the-friary-1-24-portsmouth British Listed Buildings
  63. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-477331-new-court-numbers-1-30-hampstead British Listed Buildings
  64. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200540 Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  65. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-29656-1-36-inclusive-nos-rosebank-cottages-incl British Listed Buildings

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