The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company Explained

Improved Industrial Dwellings Company
Type:	Public
Foundation:	London, UK
Founder:	Sydney Waterlow
Location City:	London
Industry:	Housing
Products:	Model dwellings

The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (IIDC) was a Victorian Model dwellings company founded in 1863 by the printer, philanthropist and later Lord Mayor of London Sir Sydney Waterlow. The company operated predominantly in Central London as a provider of block dwellings for the working classes, employing a strict selection and discipline regime amongst its tenants to ensure a healthy return on investment.^[1] Starting with a capital of £50,000,^[2] the IIDC became one of the largest and most successful of the model dwellings companies, housing at its height around 30,000 individuals.^[3]

Waterlow's example was influential. The Newcastle Upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company was set up by James Hall of Hall Brothers Steamship Company, Tynemouth, after visiting Sir Sydney Waterlow's establishment in London.^{[4] [5]}

Buildings

Waterlow worked with the builder Matthew Allen, choosing not to use an architect. Blocks built by the IIDC include:

• Marlborough Buildings, Chelsea^[6]
• Huntingdon Buildings,^[7] Bethnal Green
• Leopold Buildings, Bethnal Green
• Sandringham Buildings, Charing Cross
• Cromwell Buildings, Southwark
• Langbourn Buildings, Finsbury
• Clarendon Flats, Mayfair^[8]
• Cobden Buildings,^[9] Kings Cross Road, Islington (1865)
• Ambrosden Avenue, Devil's Acre, Westminster
• Derby Buildings, Britannia Street, Camden^[10]
• Old Tower Buildings, Brewhouse Lane, Wapping (1864)
• Compton Buildings, Finsbury^[11] (1871)
• New Tower Buildings, Wapping High Street, Wapping (1886)

There were others in Old St Pancras Road, Wapping, Greenwich and Islington.^[12]

See also

• List of existing model dwellings

External links

• National Archives acquisition LMA/4013; list of blocks built by the IIDC

Notes and References

1. Tarn, J.N. (1968) The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, vol. 22, pp. 43-59.http://www.lamas.org.uk/archives/transactions/volume22.html
2. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-lma4013&cid=-1#-1 National Archives acquisition LMA/4013
3. Wohl, A.S. (1977) The eternal slum: housing and social policy in Victorian London. London: Edward Arnold
4. Book: William Hayward. James Hall of Tynemouth: A Beneficent Life of a Busy Man of Business. 1896. s.n.]. unknown library. English.
5. Web site: Garth Heads. Geography. Kay's. 2019-06-02. Newcastle residential areas. en. 2019-06-03.
6. Web site: Settlement and building: From 1865 to 1900 | British History Online.
7. Web site: Bethnal Green: Building and Social Conditions from 1876 to 1914 | British History Online.
8. Web site: Plate 31: Working-class housing | British History Online.
9. Web site: Cobden Buildings, Clerkenwell, London.
10. Web site: Plus ça change. 9 February 2011.
11. Web site: Northampton Square area: South and north of Northampton Square | British History Online.
12. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-lma4013&cid=-1#-1 National Archives acquisition LMA/4013