A collection of 8 black and white negatives, showing a Ministry of Works distribution depot, at Wigsley Airfield, Nottinghamshire. The depot housed parts connected with the US and Swedish methods of prefabricated construction. The “Swedish House”, was a timber framed dwelling whose parts were built in Sweden, shipped to the UK and then assembled in situ. Around 5,000 were built across the UK and although they were intended to only last between 10-15 years, many are still standing in 2019. The Swedish homes were built of Baltic pine and were a gift from the Swedish nation in response for Britain’s assistance during the war. The US temporary house was an imported, timber framed, prefabricated model from the United States. They were the cheapest prefabricated model adopted by the Ministry and around 8,500 of this were built. None have survived into the twenty-first century. Large airfields, Nissen Huts and hangers, built for the war and decommissioned in 1945, allowed for the convenient bulk storage of these parts before they were distributed to areas around the country.
4 of the 8 images were catalogued and digitised as part of a 2019 project.
The original Ministry of Works storage envelope lists the division as D.D.T.H. and the operator as “E”.
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, Mid 20th Century Depot, Mid 20th Century Airfield
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