Nos. 6 and 8 Newcomen Road

Summary

A pair of model cottages, built in 1850-2. Designed by the architect Henry Roberts in Tudor style for the Tunbridge Wells Branch of 'The Society for improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes'. Some late C20 additions and alterations.

Reasons for Designation

Nos. 6-8 Newcomen Road, a pair of Tudor-style model cottages built between 1847-52, designed by the architect and social reformer Henry Roberts for the Tunbridge Wells Branch of 'The Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes', are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: two storey, semi-detached, Tudor-style cottages for agricultural labourers in Roberts' Design no. 5, which became prototypes for later working class housing elsewhere;
* Date: the scheme commenced in 1847 and is now the earliest of Roberts' projects for SICLC to survive;
* Rarity of type: only five other commissions by Roberts for SICLC survive, including both flats and houses, and all have been statutorily listed;
* Innovation: some cottages were constructed using Roberts' hollow bricks, patented in 1849. The three bedroom agricultural workers' cottages, with four heated rooms and internal WCs, were very advanced for their date and the attention to ventilation, sound construction and sanitation had a strong influence on later public housing;
* Group value: a group of semi-detached cottages which between them include 3 of Roberts' designs for SICLC.

History

Nos. 2-28 Newcomen Road are a group of seven semi-detached pairs of Model Cottages designed by the architect and reformer Henry Roberts (1803-1871).

In 1844 Henry Roberts became Honorary Architect and later Vice-President of 'The Society for Improving the Condition of Labouring Classes' with the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort as President, Lord Ashley as Chairman and Lord Shaftesbury as original founder.

The Society formed a branch in Tunbridge Wells in 1847 and Henry Roberts was commissioned to build a row of model cottages along the south side of Newcomen Road. They were constructed using Henry Roberts' patent hollow bricks. The cottages are shown on the 1866 25 inch Ordnance Survey map.

The seven pairs of model cottages were built to three designs. Nos. 6 and 8 are an asymmetrical pair, nos. 22 and 24 were built to the identical design and nos. 2 and 4 are a mirror image of this design, all thought to have been built in 1850-2. This was Roberts' Design no. 5 ''for a pair of labourers cottages adapted to agricultural districts''. Additions were made at the rear in the later C20.

Details

A pair of model cottages, built in 1850-2. Designed by the architect Henry Roberts in Tudor style for the Tunbridge Wells Branch of 'The Society for improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes'. Some late C20 additions and alterations are not of special interest.

MATERIALS: render over Roberts' patent hollow bricks, with a slate roof and a central clustered brick chimneystack.

PLAN: asymmetrical almost T-shaped plan.

EXTERIOR: the front elevation of no. 6 has a doorcase on the right in a moulded architrave under a hood mould, and a C20 casement window in an existing surround, also with hood mould. Above is a gabled dormer. The side elevation has similar casement windows, under a hood mould on the ground floor.

The front elevation of no. 8 has a projecting gable to the right with a UPVC casement window in an original surround with hood moulding. Set back is a doorcase with hood mould and a uPVC casement window. The side elevation has no window openings. There is a later extension to the rear.

INTERIORS: not inspected.

Sources

Books and journals
Professor James Stephen, Curl, The Life and Works of Henry Roberts 1803-1876 Architect, (1983), 80a, 80b, 81a, 81b, 134, 140

End of official list entry

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