A collection of 7 black and white negatives showing a Ministry of Works distribution centre in Waddon, Greater London. The Temporary Housing Act of 1944/5 was intended to alleviate the acute housing shortages of the immediate postwar years, mostly through the construction of prefabricated, modular housing. The Ministry of Works was the government department tasked with the organisation and efficiency of the push for housing construction. A number of individual designs and constructions methods for housing were built during the 1940s. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, a number of distribution centres were established across the country. These centres stored the component parts for both the external and internal pieces of the housing and some of the designs (Swedish and US housing) had parts shipped to the UK to await distribution and construction. In order to maximise efficiency, distribution centres often only held the component parts for a specific form of prefabricated housing. It was common for large businesses as well as airfields, Nissen Huts, warehouses and hangers, built for the war and decommissioned after 1945, to be used as distribution centres. It is possible that this distribution centre was situated at Croydon airport.
The original Ministry of Works storage envelope lists the operator as being “E" and the division as “D.D.T.H”.
2 of the 7 images were catalogued and digitised as part of a 2020 project.
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 Warehouse, Mid 20th Century Depot, Mid 20th Century Prefabricated House
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