A collection of 15 black and white mixed format negatives, showing the demonstration houses and flats constructed at Northolt by the Ministry of Works in 1944. The Ministry of Works was the government department tasked with the organisation and efficiency of the push for postwar housing construction. The Temporary Housing Act of 1944/5 was intended to alleviate the acute housing shortages of the immediate postwar years. The images depict 15 different demonstration housing units, each with unique methods and materials of construction. The houses were built by the Ministry of Works in Northolt, Middlesex as an experiment and data gathering exercise. The project estimated the building costs for each of the advocated approaches to postwar housing construction, including steel framed, poured concrete and brick house. The houses were built in a “T” shape on the adjacent streets of Edward Road and West End Gardens. A booklet entitled “Demonstration Houses: A Short Account of the Demonstration Houses and Flats erected at Northolt by the Ministry of Works”, summarised the findings of the project.
7 of the 18 images were digitised as part of a 2019 project.
The original Ministry of Works storage envelope lists the operator as “T”.
This is part of the Sub Series: PSA01/04/H Housing; within the Series: PSA01/04 Negatives; within the Collection: PSA01 Property Services Agency
Source: Historic England Archive
Mid 20th Century Prefabricated House
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