CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FINE ARTS LIBRARY Cornell University Library NA 7552.T27 Houses for workers. 3 1924 015 178 613 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924015178613 HOUSES FOR WORKERS. PUBLISHED BY TECHNICAL JOURNALS. LTD. 27-29, ToTHiLL Street, Westminster. HOUSES FOR WORKERS. AN insistent need of to-day is the provision of suitable new houses for working-class families, both in rural and urban districts. There is a general dissatisfaction with the dispiriting rows of ill-designed houses that have been erected in town areas, and the badly-assorted cottages in village communities. We need houses of a better type, with better accommodation and better equipment — Chouses, moreover, forming part of some definite ordered scheme, instead of being a miscellaneous collection that will surely constitute the slum of to-morrow. It is the object of this volume to present a series of selected examples, in the hope that these will help the movement towards better housing in town and country. The houses have been grouped into three sections, containing the following : — (i) A general selection of cottages for rural and urban workers. (2) A colony of houses erected specially for munition workers, but representative of a class of dwelling that is suitable for artisans in a town area. (3) An estate of houses at Kennington, I/ondon, S.E., carried out in conformity with a co-ordinated scheme of rebuilding, this scheme incorporating shop premises, a church, and other communal buildings. SECTION I. COTTAGES FOR RURAL AND URBAN WORKERS. With regard to this section, we may note that in recent years the continued depopulation of country districts and the migration into towns has created a problem which is very difficult to solve. There can be no doubt that in the country districts the dearth of cottages has been a large contributory factor to the serious exodus that has occurred, and the " back to the land " cry will never gain any ready response until the labourers can be sure of being decently housed at a moderate rental. From the landowner's point of view, of course, the principal difficulty consists in erecting cottages at such an outlay as will allow the rent to be fixed at a sum within the means of those who will occupy the cottages. What the ultimate end of the present difficulty will be, it is impossible to say with any degree of coiffidence ; but the portents all indicate some- thing in the nature of a State subsidy. ' In presenting this series we liave not sought to show only those cottages which have been carried out at a phenomenally cheap rate, as we reahse that more often than not in such cases the low cost has been rendered possible only by cutting down the accommodation below the desirable minimum, by u|ing. materials of inferior quality and bald appearance, and by executing the building work in the most sUpshod manner. Economy in cost is undeniably one of the cardinal necessities if houses are to be let at a rent which workmen and labourers can affofd to pay ; but 3 A 2 it must always be remembered that upkeep and permanence are factors of no less importance. This is especially the case with houses built by local authorities, who have to arrange loans for the purpose. It wiU be found, we think, that in the examples now illustrated the problem has been studied from this dual point of view. The houses may be regarded as sound examples of building, finished in the best way that the' available funds permitted, and designed also with an eye to their architectural appearance. They comprise a large number of types, from the detached labourer's cottage to pairs and groups of cottages, and among them will be found also some flats. The costs given are pre-war costs, and consequently, of course, much below what they would be under present conditions ; but they serVe as a general indication of what can be pro- vided for a stipulated expenditure. On this subject of cost we have thought it to be of value to include a detailed description of an experiment in cottage building made at York by Messrs. Rowntree. The particulars are given on page T2. They are of pecuUar interest as showing how cottages were built for less than £ioo each. We have thought it to be of value also to include some information on the subject of cottages for small holders. The particulars, taken from the report of the Departmental Com- mittee which investigated the subject, will be found on page 7. SECTION II. A COLONY OF HOUSES FOR MUNITION WORKERS. This section illustrates the very excellent colony of houses at Well Hall, carried out by the Government for the accommodation of some of the workers at Woolwich Arsenal. The scheme is fully described in the prefatory article on page 59, but here it may be pointed out that its great feature is the provision of houses in blocks of four and more ; an economy in cost being thus effected, while all appearance of monotony is avoided by the judicious placing of the blocks in relatiort to one another. SECTION III. AN URBAN HOUSING SCHEME. The houses shown in this section are on the Kennington estate of the Duchy of Cornwall (Professor S. D. Adshead and Mr. Stanley C. Ramsey, architects). In point of style they are admirable as a modern rendering of the small house of the I^ate Georgian period, but while conforming to one general character, they are very diversified in treatment, and thereby possess a fresh interest in each case. Especially they are of value as being part of an urban rebuilding scheme on town-planning lines. Full particulars of the scheme are given in the article that prefaces the section. CONTENTS. Houses for Small Holders * ^'^'^^ Pair of Small Holders' Houses . . [[ Cheap Concrete Cottages for Agricultural Labourers ' 7 10 12 SECTION I. Cottages for Rural and Urban Workers. Cottage at Dibden, Southampton (A. H. Clough, Architect) Pair of Cottages at Sheepwash, Newtown. (Francis Bacon, Architect) 18 Pair of Cottages at Dibden, Southampton (A. H. Clough, Architect) 19 Pair of Cottages at Woking (E. C. P. Monson, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.I., Architect) . . . . 20 Ihree Cottages at Bocking, Essex (Miss M. E. Tabor, Architect) ... 21 Six Cottages at Church Street, Bocking, Essex (Miss M. E. Tabor, Architect) . . . . 22 Four Cottages at Marsh Green, Hartfield, Sussex (A. H. Clough, Architect) . . four ^°*tages^in Garden Estate, near York (Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, 17 23 24 Pair of Cottages at Burton. Cheshire (H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, Architect) . . . . 26 Pair of Cottages at Burton Manor, Cheshire (H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, Architect) . . 26 Pair of Cottages, Bucton Court Estate, near Leominster (Clough Williams-EUis, Architect) 27 Block of Five Cottages, Bury Road, Thetford (Stanley J. Wearing, A.R.LB.A., Architect) 28 Block of Four Cottages, The Garden Village, Hull (Runton & Barry, AA.R.I.B.A.. Architects) _ , _ _ _ _ .... 29 Block of Four Flats, Yeovil, Somerset (J. Petter & P. F. Warren, A.R.LB.A., Architects) 30 Pair of Cottages at Yeovil, Somerset (J. Petter & P. F. Warren, A.R.LB.A., Architects) 31 Row of Six Cottages, Borough of Yeovil (J. Petter & P. F. Warren, Architects) . . 32 Five Cottages at a Sea-side Village, Co. Antrim (Clough Williams-EUis, Architect) . . 33 Workmen's DewUings, CUne Road, Guildford (T. J. Capp, Architect) 34- Block of Six Cottages, Common View, Letcjiworth (H. L. Paterson, Architect) . . 3.5 Pair of Cottages at Hull (Chapman & Jenkinsop, Architects) 36 Four Cottages at Markfield, Leicestershire (E. C. P. Monson, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.L, Architect) 37 Block of Three Cottages, Bury Road, Thetford (Stanley J. Wearing, A.R.LB.A., Architect) 38 Pair of Cottages at Highclere, Berks (Francis Bacon,- Architect) 39 Block of Four Cottages, Fforestfach Garden Village (G. L. Pepler, F.S.L, & E. G. Allen, F.R.I.B.A., Architects) 40 Concrete Cottages, Merthyr Tydfil (F. Thackeray, Borough Architect) 41 Cottage at Merrow Common, near Guildford (built for J. St. Loe' Strachey, Esq.) . . 41 Cottages at Woodstock, Oxon. (Frank Mountain, M.S. A., Architect) .. ... .. 42 Block of Four Cottages, Primrose Avenue, Wincobank, Sheffield (fl. L. Paterson, A.R.LB.A., Architect) .. 43 Pair of Cottages at Oving, near Aylesbury, Bucks (Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, F.R.I.B.A., Architects) . . . . 44 Pair of Cottages at Oving, near Aylesbury (Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, Architects) 45 Seven Cottages off Prospect Road, Cadishead (G. Herbert Kay, A.M.I.C.E., Architect) 46 Block of Four Flats and Four Cottages, Wincobank Avenue, Sheffield (H. L. Paterson, A.R.LB.A., Architect) 47 Group of Fourteen Small Flats, Byfleet, Surrey (Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, F.R.I.B.A., Architects) ' 48 Cottage at Merrow Common, Surrey (Conrad B. Willcocks, Architect) . . . . . . 49 Pair of Cottages at East Clandon, Surrey (H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, Architect) . . . . 50 Pair of Cottages at East Clandon, Surrey (H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, Architect) . . . . 51 Cottages at Whitlingham Farm, Norwich (Arthur E. ColUns, M.Inst. C.E., City Engineer) 52, 53 Farm Houses at Postbridge, Devon (Richardson & Gill, FF.R.I.B.A., Architects) 54, 55 SECTION II. Government Housing Scheme at Well Hall, Eltham, Kent. Hutments for Munition Workers (Building .Department, Woolwich Arsenal) . . 56, 57, 58 Plate I.— Crescent of Houses, Well Hall Road (Class I.). II. — Houses in Crescent, Well Hall Road (Class I.- — excepting middle House, Class II.). III. — Houses at Ends of Crescent, Well Hall Road (Class I.). ^„ IV.— Ro^s'Way. "' " ^' V. — Block of Four Houses, Downraan Road (Classes I. and II.). Wing of Block of Seven Houses, Well Hall Road (Classes I. and II.). VI. — Block of Four Houses, Downman Road (Classes I. and II.).' VII.— Block of Seven Houses, Well Hall Road (Classes I. and II.). VIII. — Block of Four Houses, Phineas Pett Road (Classes II. and III.). Block of Houses,, the Cinder Path, Well Hall Road (Classes I. and II.). ,, , IX. — Block of Four Houses, Phineas Pett Road. X. — Sandby Green. ,, 'XI. — Block of Five Houses, Sandby Green (East Side — Class III.). „ XII. — ^Lovelace Green. ,, XIII.^ — Pair of Cottages, Lovelace Green (Class III.). XIV. — Dickson Road. XV. — Houses Facing Well Hall Road. XVI.— Flats, Granby Road (Class IV.). SECTION III. Housing on the. KeNnington Estate of the Duchy of Cornwall, for His Royal Highness THE Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall. Plate I. — Old Tenants' Hostel, Newburn Street : Entrance. ,, II. — Old Tenants' Hostel : View of Quadrangle. „ III. — Old Tenants' Hostel : Ground-floor Plan and Elevation to Newburn Street. IV. — Old Tenants' Hostel : Fountain in Quadrangle. Two Houses, in Courtenay Street.- -Two Shops in Newburn Street. -Courtenay Square. -Cottages in Courtenay Square : Detail of "Elevation and Plans of Ground aiid First Floors. .., c. t,, 'ult !;• oiu; ■' •S; sJU' VIII — Cottages, Courtenay Street. Two-Storey Flats, Newburn Street. IX. — Estate Office, Kennington Gate. X. — Flats in Upper Kennington Lane at Entrance to Courtenay Street. XI. — Flats in Upper Kennington Lane at Entrance to Courtenay Street : Block on Right-hand side. XII. — Shops in Upper Kenhington Lane. XIIL— Block of Eigriteen Flats on North Side of Chester Street. XIV.— Block of Twelve Flats and Cottage on South Side of Chester Street. XV. — Flats in Chester Street : Detail of Elevation and Plans. XVI. — ^Two-storey Flats, Cardigan Street. XVII. — CrSche in Princes' Road. XVIII. — St. Anselm's Vicarage. ,, v.- 3> VI. VII. T HOUSES FOR SMALL HOLDERS. HE following is a summary of the chief conclusions arrived at by the Departmental Committee which has investigated the subject of houses for small holdings : — Minimum Requirements. The Committee, while recognising it as their duty to make j)ractical suggestions for reducing the cost of building, wish to make it clear that they would deprecate any attempt to cheapen the construction at the cost of the ordinary requirements of health, decency, and convenience. They have therefore considered it helpful to fix the following minimum standard of accommodation for a small holder's house, below which it would be undesirable in any circumstances to fall : — Approximate Minimum Area. Dimensions, sq. ft. ft. in. ft. in. Living-room or kitchen i8o 15 o .x 12 o Scullery 80 10 o x 8 o . Larder or pantry 24 6 o x 4 o Fuel store 35 7 o x 5 o Bedroom No. i 150 12 6 x 12 o Bedroom No. 2 100 11 o. x 9 o Bedroom No. 3 65 9 o x 7 3 Approximate cubic space in bedrooms, if averaging 8 ft. high all over, 2,520 cubic ft. In addition, if the circumstances demanded it, a parlour might be provided, about 12 ft. by 10 ft. Where a parlour is provided on the ground floor, and there is therefore greater area on the first floor, the minimum sizes of bedrooms should be as follows, instead of those given above : — Approximate Minimum Area. Dimensions, sq. ft. ft. in. ft. Bedroom No. i 160 13 4 x 12 Bedroom No. 2 120 12 o x 10 Bedroom No. 3 no 11 o x 10 Approximate cubic space in bedrooms, if averaging 8 ft. high all over, 3,120 cubic ft. The Living-Room. The practical convenience of a living-room depends not only upon its size, but also upon its plan and arrangement. The best shape is probably one not quite square — about 15 ft. by 12 ft. If the flreplace is on one of the short walls, the windows should be on the adjacent long wall, arid the door or doors should be placed, as near as, possible to the corner farthest from the fire and window. If the fireplace is on one of the long walls the room should be made somewhat wider to allow for the projection of the chimney breasts. The window should then be on one of the short walls, and the door may be at the opposite end of the long wall which carries the fireplace, provided it is not less than about the length stated above. The fire should never be placed immediately opposite the. only window, otherwise the housewife will stand in her own light when cooking. The portions of the room about the fire and adjacent to the window should not have to be used as passage ways from one door to another, and special care should be taken to avoid planning doors between the fire and the window, on account of the inconvenience resulting from such an arrangement. (See illusttation page 9, C.) As a rule, one large window is preferable to two small ones, and where there are two, the second should be made quite a minor one. The living-room should be provided with a cooking range or kitchener, and also with sufficient cupboards and shelves. The best aspect for the living-room is south or south-east, so that the morning sun may enter. A convenient type of dresser is shown by (D). Bedrooms. In the bedrooms the desirable standard to keep in view is a minimum of 500 cubic feet per adult and 250 cubic feet per child ; in no case should a bedroom contain less than 500 cubic feet. In the largest bedroom provision is required not only for the double-bed, but very frequently for one or even two cots as well ; the floor area of this room, therefore, should never be less than 150 square feet, and 160 or 180 feet is a more desirable size. The principal bedroom having been planned, some liberty in apportioning the remaining space to the other bedrooms must be allowed, because the exigencies of planning may make it in one case much easier to provide two bedrooms of unequal size, and in another case two of about equal size. Where possible, the second bedroom should preferably be large enough to accommodate two adults, though perhaps it will more often be occupied by two children, or by one adult and one younger person. In the house having a parlour it is often possible to provide, at little extra cost, a quite small fourth room, which will be very useful as a boxroom, or will serve as a bedroom for an occasional visitor. The important consideration in planning a bedroom is to allow sufficient space for the bed or beds out of the draught from the window, so that there may be no special reason to keep the window closed. The objection that exists, in the case of the ground-floor rooms, to the door being placed in one of the corners adjacent to the fire is of much less force in the case of a bedroom ; indeed, it will often be found that this is a convenient arrangerhent. Simple wardrobe cupboards are a great boon, and if they consist only of a wooden shelf in a recess with a frame for curtains and pegs for hanging, they will serve to protect clothes from dust, and help the occupants to keep the rooms tidy. The Dairy. In addition to the minimum accommodation mentioned above, it will generally be neces- sary, in a small holder's house, to provide a dairy, except in the case of a holding cultivated entirely as a market garden where no cow is kept. The dairy must be separate from the larder : it should not open directly out of the living-room or scullery, and is best entered from outside the house by means of a small covered way, or lobby, adjacent to the scullery door. The aspect should always be either north or north-east ; the window should not be of excessive size, and may sometimes with advantage be recessed in the wall or otherwise protected from the slanting rays of the sun. The window may even be shaded .by a projecting roof, but it should not open on to such yard space as is likely to be wanting in proper circulation of air. The dairy must be thoroughly ventilated and, like the larder, should be well hghted by a window, which may be a fixed light if sufficient ventilation is secured by other means. All means of ventilation should be covered with fly -proof copper wire gauze. The minimum size for a dairy in connection with a small holding should be 40 sq. ft. General Construction : Walling. Economy should be sought in careful planning and simplicity of construction, not in the undue cutting down of the quahty of the materials, flttings, or workmanship. Cavity walls are recommended as the most effective and economical means of securing a dry interior. Failing this, the outside of the house should be protected with a good thick coating of cement rough-cast. It is important that good mortar should be used. Inferior mortar is the cause of much trouble with rough-cast. Recent investigations go to show that the commonly adopted proportion of 3 to I for mortar does not give good results, particularly when the Ume is measured after slaking. With the average materials a proportion of 2 to i would prove more satisfactory. It is very common to see the damp course placed too low. It should never be less than 6 in. above the highest finished level of the ground. Protection Against Weather. The protection of walls by means of overhanging eaves offers great advantages. In the case of window openings, weak spots are particularly likely to occur at the joints between the brick wall and the wooden frames. Properly constructed string-courses and drip-courses across the base of a gable or over the heads of windows and doors afford considerable protection by throwing off the water and reducing the volume running down the surface of the wall or window. Proper weathering and throating, however, are essential. (See illustration on opposite page, E.) Where stone sills are considered too costly, an oak undersill with good projection is recommended in preference to brick on edge. A good drip under the sill may be made by using two courses a tt of paving quarries laid to break joint at a sufficient slope, and projecting an inch or two beyond the face of the wall. Roof -coverings. The best roof-coverings to adopt depends upon the district, but tiles are preferable to slates. Over a large part of England one of the cheapest roof-coverings is provided by the old-fashioned pantiles, but they should be laid with a pitch of not less than 45 degrees, and with a good lap. If not laid with mortar, however, tiles are apt to be stripped by wind, and will not effectually keep out driving rain and fine snow. The Norfolk system of lathing, which con- sists in laying three rows of plaster laths down each row of tiles, to hold the mortar upon which the tiles are then bedded, is a very effective way of making a good and secure pantile roof. Another way is to lay over the spars or rafters, before the tile laths are fixed, a covering of thin waterproof material, of which many kinds are now on the market. With this method the tiles may be bedded on each other with just sufficient mortar to keep them from moving. (See illustration on preceding page, H.) Windows. The Yorkshire shde (see illustration on preceding page, B) is recommended as the simplest and least expensive form, of window. If an oak sill is used, with oak pegs instead of an outside retaining fillet, durability is ensured. The casement window (A) comes next in the matter of simplicity, and a portion of the sash can be hung at the top, so as to open out- wards and permit of ventilation if for any reason the casement must be kept closed. Eaves Gutters. The best form of eaves gutters is the thick cast-iron half-round 5-in. size, with strengthened edge. It should be carried on stout wrought irons screwed to the spars or rafters ; or adjustable bearers make a good support and facilitate the provision of the even falls required to clear all the spouts of water. Eaves gutters in front of cart-sheds are easily injured, and in such a position the gutter may with advantage be set on a protecting board (F and G) — preceding page. Floors. The question of the best flooring for the living-room is one of some difficulty. So far . as the room serves the purposes of a vyorkroom, there is no doubt that a tiled floor is the most satisfactory and the easiest to keep clean ; but so far as the room is used as a sitting-room there is the objection that a tiled floor is cold. A boarded floor may be provided, but in that case it will most likely be covered with linoleum by the occupier, and, apart from the expense involved, linoleum has a decided tendency to encourage dry rot when laid upon a new board floor. If such a floor is provided, exceptionally thorough ventilation underneath it should be secured. On the whole, a tiled floor in the living roonx would seem bfest, but where there is local prejudice against a tiled floor probably the second best is an ordinary boarded floor with thorough ventilation underneath. Air-bricks on one side of a room only are not sufficient ; ventilation may easily be secured under an adjacent soUd floor by using a few field drain-pipes to connect with the air grid in the outer wall. For the larder and dairy, and also for the scullery, a concrete floor will prove economical and satisfactory. In the parlour a boarded floor on joists will naturally be laid. PAIR OF SMALL HOLDERS' HO.USES. THE illustration on the opposite page shows a pair of small holders' houses embodying what the Departmental Committee consider to be the minimum amount of accommo- dation permissible where a dairy is necessary. If the dairy is not required, the space should be occupied by the fuel store, with the E.G. either adjoining or built detached. The larders, being east and west, should have shutters or other protection from the summer sun. As two bedrooms are on the north side, it would be an advantage that the aspect should not be due north and south. The Hpuses are designed for a slate roof. They are planned as a pair with a view to economy. 10 nnnriin nnrinn CUBIC COMTEMT.n HOUSCi +o''»'>3.l - 19320 OUT6UILDIMO& I5'9'lil3"ll- 2.600 TOTAL 21.920 (® 4-*PERcu.rF -£365 SIDE ELEVATIOri SECrroN A B FRONT ELEVATION BACK ELEVATION PAIR OF SMALL HOLDERS' HOUSES OF MINIMUM SIZE, AS SPECIFIED BY DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE. u li 2 CHEAP CONCRETE COTTAGES FOR AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. IN this article I give detailed jjarticulars of the concrete cottage built by Messrs. Rowntree, * of York, in 1912, from plans prepared by myself, as an attempt to solve the question of cheap, weU-built, sanitary cottages for agricultural labourers. Having designed very largely and erected mxmerous structures in reinforced concrete, I am convinced that undoubtedly this is the material to which architects will have to look for cheapness combined with durability, and the example that I here set forth will, I truSt, go a long way to show that there is a very great future for concrete generally. It must, of course, be borne in mind that concrete work must be well done, and that exceptional care must be taken in the choice of materials and proportions, if good results are to be obtained. The architect is often inclined to look askance at concrete because his experience has taught him that in all probability he will be troubled with expansion cracks and dampness, especially with flat roof construction. From practical experience I am able to state that, with the proper selection of materials and the use of Portland cement which will pass in every respect the British Standard Specification, there is Uttle fear of these troubles arising. The great mistake often made in connection with concrete work is to use either too great a proportion of cement or too little. Some inen seem to think that if they crowd their materials with a rich mixture of cement they will produce good results, but this is a fallacy. Each particle of aggregate should be thinly coated with cement grouting, and the interstices filled with the smaller proportions of aggregate, and not cemented together with lumps of pure cement, as is often the case, when difficulty with uneven expansion is sure to follow. As a similar case in point, no joiner would think of putting a thick layer of glue to obtain strength when joining up his woodwork. Concrete for roofs should be composed of gravel or similar impervious stone. I have found that the most simple and satisfactory method of obtaining proper proportions of aggregate is to pass the gravel through a screen having a circular mesh of | in. diameter, and grading the aggregate down from f in. to pea size. Put this clean wetted gravel into a bucket, filling level with the top, and into this pour a sufficient quantity of water to fill itp the interstices to over- flowing. The proportion of water necessary to fill the bucket in bulk is the proportion of sand to be added to the gravel. Both sand and gravel must be well washed and free from any foreign matter. Having obtained the proportions of sand required to mix with the gravel, the best proportion of cement is i to 6 in bulk. If these instructions are followed, and the concrete is thoroughly wetted in the mixing and kept wet for a few days, there is little fear of leaky roofs. Unsatisfactory concrete work is generally due to the contractor taking very little heed of the concrete because he intends to give it a fancy finish. This on no account must be done if you would have good sound work. The architect must insist upon the concrete being put down in a thoroughly wet mass, and when it has set sufficiently to allow trowelling, the original surface must be well trowelled with a metal trowel. If you allow the concrete to set, and follow on with a rich mixture of fancy topping, you are sure to get a variation of expansion, and invariably there will be expansion cracks ; indeed, in many cases the finishing coat will leave the body of the concrete. The experimental cottage here illustrated was constructed in every way to pass the local by-laws of York. The external walls are 9 ins. thick. There was, of course, no necessity to 12 Sma/T wiodow a£ot>e. fi^C. roof ->. 27 'O" EXPERIMENTAL CONCRETE COTTAGE, YORK, BUILT IN 1912, AT A COST OF ;£89. W. J. Swain, Architect. l.'i use such a thickness, as I have built a two-storey house at the seaside where the walls are onl5 4| ins. thick ; but the by-laws of York would not allow me to reduce. In carrying out the work I therefore cast blocks in moulds. A rCiugh-cast finish was got by putting a thin layer of sand at the bott-om of the moulds, embedding into some sharp clean basic slag, and next about 4 ins. of. good solid gravel concrete. The mould was then filled up with concrete composed of clean screened boiler ashes. The ash concrete was used for two purposes — first, because it was cheaper than the gravel, and, secondly, because it forms a good surface for skimming over with plaster, and prevents condensation on the walls. This course I adopt also for reinforced concrete flat roofs. When making the slab, put down i in. at least of good ash concrete and cover over immediately with the gravel concrete. This gets over any difficulty experienced with extreme variations of temperature. The internal walls were made entirely of ash concrete 2! ins. thick. Having described concrete generally, and the methods of building blocks, I will proceed with the modus operandi for constructing a cottage. Strip off the vegetable soil and fill in with hard clinker ashes or broken stone or other suitable material. I^ay over the whole of the site a 4 in. concrete slab composed of good gravel concrete, and bring up the sides the width of the walls to 6 ins. above the existing earth line. This forms a raft similar to an inverted box-lid. Care must be taken that the whole of the concrete necessary to form this slab and the sides shall be done in one day, in order to prevent cracks or faulty adhesion. After a couple of days' setting, you can proceed to lay the blocks forming the external walls. These walls, which p resent a very rustic appearance from the outside, have, when cast, been smoothed off on the internal face, so as to dispense with expensive plastering. In many cottages it would be quite sufiicient to give these walls a coating of lime- wash or distemper, but in the cottage in question I had the walls lightly skimmed with a coat of lime-putty gauged with plaster of Paris. The windows were built in as the work proceeded, and the fascia was formed of solid concrete. This was done in order that I could embody small pieces of steel to stretch the wires for the reinforced concrete roof. The floor-boards come in useful for centering for the latter. The concrete roof was composed of gravel concrete carefully graded and mixed 6 to i. The wire reinforcement was stretched across from side to side, and the slab cast 4 ins. thick with stiffening beams on the outside so as to dispense with expensive wood forms, and also so as not to produce unsightly ceilings. This slab was trowelled after it was properly set and has proved itself to be perfectly watertight, and has had as many as forty persons standing on the top at one time. Ash concrete was placed upon the gravel concrete floors to the necessary thickness, and the floor boards were nailed down to the same. When fastening the boards to the breeze or ash concrete foundations, care must be taken that the boards bed down solid on to the concrete. If the concrete is not perfectly level, fine ash should be sprinkled over in order that there shall be no air spaces between the boards and the concrete. The concrete must also be thoroughly dry before being covered with boards. Unless these two matters are carefully watched, there will be trouble with rot. My experience, especially with large factory work, is that, provided you have dry concrete and expel the whole of the air from under the boards, you can get a thoroughly sound floor. Immediately you try to get a small air-space by inserting strips, as is often done, you will be troubled with dry-rot, which spreads very quickly in vitiated air. The chimneys were very. carefully worked out to prevent down-draughts by providing adequate openings on each side covered with concrete slab. It is often said that low-shaft chimneys will not draw, but I have had no difficulty, although this cottage is placed on low land at the bottom of an orchard and is surrounded by tall trees and higher buildings. The living-room is provided with a kitchen range, and the copper in the scullery is built at the back of the range with specially constructed flue and damper, so that the water in the copper is heated by the fire of the range. From the copper a pipe is fixed so that hot water can .be discharged into the bath. In this case I constructed a w.c, as earth closets are not allowed, but the cost given later does not include drainage, as the cost of the w.c. pan, seat, and cistern complete is more than the cost of an ordinary earth closet or privy— which would be provided if the cottage were erected, as intended, for farm-labourers. U 6 n. X 12 ft. 6 in S n. X 6 ft. 6 in 2 in. X z ft. 6 in 6 in. X 2 ft. 6 in ^ n. X 4 ft. 3 in 6 n. X lO ft. o in o in. X q ft. in o n. X q ft. o in 6 in. X 3 it. 6 in f: a. d. n lO 8.L 7 lO 6 8 i6 o 1.3 4 I 8 lo o 17 6 Below are figures showing the sizes of rooms, &c., and the exact cost for labour and materials. But I must here state that no charge has been made for the boiler ashes, which were supplied free, though I had to pay is. per load cartage, which is included in the cartage account. Sizes of Rooms. Living-room 15 ft. Scullery 9 ft. Larder ,5 ft. Coals 3 ft. Bath room g ft. Bedroom No. i 11 ft. Bedroom No. 2 : 9 ft. Bedroom No. 3 9 ft. Passage 15 ft. Height of Rooms, 8 ft. G ins". Prime Costs. Labour. Labourer 13 Bricklayer Carpenter and Joiner Painter .' Plasterer Plumber , Materials. £ =• d. Sand — Twii. cwt. qrs. lbs. 18 15 30 at 5s. 3d. ton 3 I 1 Gravel — 10 6 o o at 6s. 6d. ton=;^3 6s. iid. 5 8 6 o at 6s. ton = ;^i 12s. od 4 18 11 Slag— i 18 3 14 at 7s. 6d. ton i _> 2 Steel (round mild) — Cwts. qrs. lbs. . 2 2 25 f-in. at los. 4W. per cwt. =£1 8s. 2d. I 2 25 J-in. at 8s. per cwt. =133 2 i 2 Cement — 5 tons Portland at 35s. 8d. per ton =;^8 i8s. 4d. 5 9-ioth tons ditto at 31s. 7d.* per ton =£g 6s. 5d. . . 18 4 y " Pudlo "— 5 lb. at IS. 6d. per lb o 7 6 Bricks " o 18 Ironmongery 2 i 11^ Timber 10 4 i Bath I 16 6 Set pot . ^ o 8 z Kitchen range (3 ft. 6 in.) 115 6 Sink (24I by 16 complete) o 8 6 W.C. pan, seat and cistern i i 9 Sanitary pipes and bends i i o Paint o 4 T ,! Plaster 013 8 Putty, hme o 11 4 Plumbing Materials 4 lo 7 Carting 1 4 o £55 15 10 £ s. d. Cost of labour 32 16 lOj^ Cost of materials , 55 15 10 Total prime cost 88 12 8i * Price of contract we had for cement advanced afterwards to 35s. 8d. per ton. This cottage has been viewed by persons interested in the housing problem from all over the country. The Right Hon. Walter Runciman also paid it a visit and expressed great satis- faction with the accommodation and appearance. 15 SECTION I. COTTAGES FOR RURAL AND URBAN WORKERS. COTIAGE AT DIBDEN. >50UTHAMPT0M TDTJM CorT ABOUT 4 Zoo. II' HOLLOW UrED UP TO UNDER-TrOE OF JOli-Tf AfTER- WHICH li* PLA^TTER- ON EXPANDED METAL : RiaDFlN& li" OF BB-IDQWATER- TR.1PLE. TlLiS . \ "t 1 „, ,-.!■ ' ! ■ 1 ' a£j section: END elevation: FRONT iiiVAiion : BACK ELEVATION!. : (5R0UND Fii3DR. PLAN: FIR^T FLCDR. PLAN FT lo S f . ^ n II 1 1 1 1 1 1 !■ -I- 3<>. -I- 4' AM.aO\JGtU. ARCHITECT. 17 PAIR. OF OOTIAGES AT 5^WEEPWA^H. NEWTOWN: TOTAL COi"T OF CX3TTA^E.J* £200 EACH II" UOLLOW WAUS" U^'ED, WITH <1"x3" AND q'xq' CR-EO«rr£D , DtAL FRAMING-. B(t.lOKkO<^^lNq. 4);." THICK. THE. L/PPER- fTDB-Ey PROJECTS* 14" OVfcR^ THE tjOWtR^. Roof IJ OF JTR-AW 14' THIOK. . ^tst^^xi:.^^- '.. .'>*M, s;5 WE5T ELECTION 5ECTION EA5T elevation: NORTH ELEVATIOM: J'ECTION F[R^T FLODFL PLAN : : GROUND PLCJDR. PUN : 18 FfLANCIX BACOW ARCHITECT : PAII^ OF' dDTTAGiS /^ DIBDEN . ■ JDirrHAMPlDN : Cost about ^i50 per Cottaqe: If HOLLOW WALLJ* UP TO UMDER-TIDE OF JOISTS AFTLR. WHICH ir PLANTER- OM EXPANDED METAL |?flDFING, IS OF BRJDGWATER- TRJPLE TILEJ' FRONT ELEVATION : END ELEVATION prio- c o I I I I I I I I I I I SECTION GtPOUMD FIR^T FLOOR- PLAM ; : AM.CiDUCH. ARCWITECT J 'J ^yr /^ jJ^^^^Rj \ ^"^ ;-— 1 iJrs j^Misw 1 W ' ' m^^mmn^ ^ ! i iis || 1 iiaUIIIBil lb> " / i "''•"' mliESI"""^^^^ g^- -^L Jbi^mB ^^ ^"'^^^ ^^^^Kf^^.ifmmtx \ i ^^M 1^~£ y'^ .. li^HtHffl .^^^WHJH 20 Q ^ s ^ Vt "J iii 2 ' '■- "' iCK'^i ■. ^ y U UJ iT 'va^ar~ LU Q O ^ U 00 N >*) ^ LU -j-LJLJX i ■ 23 4-iJ uj r- Co LU :§£ ^ U. d i-[ I — 2^^ ULl CL 8 w* s d ul CL H 8 Q 111 ~i z OS 3--- S-. h •0 «-0 (

0- 42 qZ 9^ leg Sag uiJioQ I- 4fi< o o o I ^ o w H 9 i9 U-- H O W H CJ Q « H Pi K Q O O U K s ^. t3 S w * g:.i •o « r *0 ' < V. w a H w o <; H H O O O < 50 o u o i i ;S--e "t o b UJ 3 CL 8 8- 5 § Q «JJ ^- I o 5 < s h-i u «• H << (fl W O <; H H o o o 51 K W W H ;?; w H - w ' l!t' , ■ 1 ., .J... - y.'i o'.o . ,J.\? ■ — 1 ' -: 1 bf/ai. Y 5 - i^/ipkjTa ■75 -/> ro/ters -\-L ' I' i ' 1 Panel D /i'l fteauirec/ ^ Panel E similar buron.c^/xaije. hant^ f/°l ffe lM, KENT • DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION. e»a'.) 57 '*»«ia!r!H^,»^ HUTMENTS FOR MUNITION WORKERS, WELL HALL, ELTHAM, KENT, (Buildmi Depatimml, Woolwich Arsenal.) 58 SECTION II. GOVERNMENT HOUSING SCHEME AT WELL HALL, ELTHAM, KENT. A FEW years ago the Well Hall Road, leading from Woolwich to Elthatn, now broad, 'V weU paved and served by trams, was an almost unknown country lane crossing the eastern slope of Shooters Hill. The wayfarer, setting out from Woolwich for a quiet ramble, could find few finer prospects of town — the town — and country than that obtained from the summit of this slope, or air more bracing than that which sweeps across the uufenced common beyond. At the beginning of 1915 the shallow valley between Shooters Hill and the heights of Eltham consisted for the most part of market gardens ; but by the end of the same year these had made way for an ordered scheme of dwellings very pleasant to look upon, and wearing an aspect of comfortable prosperity. This scheitne was the direct outcome of the War, and was initiated in order to deal with the serious scarcity of housing accommodation in the neighbourhood of Woolwich resulting from the vastly increased staff of employees at the Arsenal. Although the whole of the work of covering an area of ninety-six acres with permanent houses occiipied less than a year from start to finish, the houses present an aspect of durabiHty sometimes lacking in schemes of a similar nature. Moreover, there is no suggestion of hurried or scamped labour anywhere ; and the materials indicate the utmost care in selection to the smallest detail. The provision of houses in the neighbourhood of Woolwich being a military requirement, speed in their erection was of paramount importance ; it was indeed one of the most stringent conditions upon which the scheme was launched. The work of setting out the roads, sewers, and houses was commenced on February 3, 1915, and on December it. of the same year all the roads and houses were finished and the latter handed over to the I,.C.C. Estate Office Lay-out of Site. The site is intersected by the Well Hall Road, from which no corner is distant more than 400 yds. This fact, together with its proximity to Well Hall Station, which is situated 300 yds. from the southernmost corner, were the main factors governing the choice, the railway being essential for the transport of the vast quantities of material employed on the works. Sixty-six acres on the east side of the road and thirty acres on the west side were purchased. The land had a soft and spongy surface, which added vastly to the preliminary work ; moreover, it was intersected by ditches ; but this latter disadvantage was turned to good account, for these ditches were dammed up and served as a water supply for the work at the outset, no other service being then available. In judging the lay-out of the scheme under review it must be borne in mind that it differs from most other "garden cities " inasmuch as it has no focus such as a church, hall, or schools from which roads would naturally tend to radiate ; and whilst strictly a suburb of Woolwich, it is simply a collection of houses erected for a specific purpose and allowing of no accessories. Moreover, the question of speed rendered it incumbent on the architect (H.M. Ofiice of Works) to save so far as possible the additional expense which would have resulted from much excavation ; and, as a consequence, the roads have been laid to follow wherever possible the natural contours of the ground. This condition has been turned to good account, and some very pleasing curves and sweeps, which contribute materially to the display of the houses, have resulted ; the high pavement which is a feature of Ross Way (see Plate IV.) evincing 59 a similar adaptability to existing conditions on the parfe of the architect. The open spaces are of considerable area, and a liberal allowance of garden space has been a,llotted to each house, the average area being 1,100 ft. super. All the roads, which are readily accessible to the Well Hall Road, are gravelled, which gives a bright and sunny effect even on a wet day. The pathways are likewise gravelled, the more frequented ones being laid with staggered concrete paving slabs down the centre. The granite gutters, edged by granite setts on the one hand and the pathway kerb of the same material on the other, are quite effective ; and the lettering of the cast-iron name-plates has been well chosen. The roads, of which there are 3-64 miles, are 40 ft. and 30 ft. wide, according to the amount of trafEc passing over them. In this connection it may be mentioned that there are 4-85 miles of sewers, which figure includes a 15 in. sewer 660 ft. long ; his passes under the tram line in Well Hall Road, and reaches a maximum depth of 30 ft. The names of the roads for the most part recall personages who have been connected with the Arsenal and town of Woolwich, and other local worthies. Open spaces for recreation have been provided on both sides of the Well Hall Road. On the east side I^ovelace Green is the chief, readily accessible from all roads. There are several minor open spaces on this side, as will be seen by referring to the site plan. On the west side the most considerable open space is Sandby Green. The retention of the trees and hedge in Franklin Passage is a happy expedient ; and while referring to this it may be stated that no trees were felled during the operations of laying-out the site, a most praiseworthy practice which should never be lost sight of in suburban plaiming. Types of Houses. The total number of houses or fiats provided is 1,298, the number of the latter being 212 ; thus provision has been made for a population of about 6,490. Blocks comprising three or more houses have not been planned in straight lines, but are so grouped as to obtain the maximum of hght and air in the rooms, which arrangement also results in the avoidance of that bane of most suburban areas — monotony. Blocks vary from two to fifteen houses apiece, with one street of fifteen houses. The houses are divided into four classes. Those in Class I. (shown black on the accom- panying site plans) each contain a living room, parlour, spare bedroom, or dining room, and scullery on the ground floor, and three bedrooms, a bath-room (with hot and cold water laid on), and the usual offices on the first floor. In Class II. (shown dotted on the site plans) the spare bedroom, or dining-room, on the ground floor is omitted. In Class III. (shown hatched on the site plans) each house contains a living room and scullery on the ground floor, and three bedrooms with usual offices on the first floor, the bath being transferred to the scullery. The self-contained flats are known as Class IV. (shown cross-hatched on the site plans), and are arranged in two-storey houses with gardens which can be spUt up between the various occupants. These flats each coiisist of a living room, scullery, with bath, two bedrooms and the usual offices. The houses in the crescent facing Well Hall Road near the station (see Plates I.-III.) all belong to Class I., excepting the middle house, No. 116, which falls into the category of Class II. Taking the first of this group as an example, the dimensions of the rooms are as follows : On the ground floor, sitting room, 14 ft. 3 in. by 11 ft. 3 in. ; parlour, 12 ft. by 9 ft. ; spare bedroom, or dining-room, 12 ft. by 7 ft. 9 in. ; scullery, 10 ft. by 5 ft. 6 in. On the first floor the bedrooms are 14 ft. 3 in. by 10 ft. 6 in., 12 ft. by 9 ft. 2 in., and 12 ft. by 7 ft. 9 in. respectively, and the bath-room 6 ft. 4 in. by 4 ft. 9 in. The frontage is 31 ft., the garden is 54 ft. by 30 ft., and the inclusive rental is i6s. a week. The dimensions of the rooms in No. 116 in the same group are : On the ground floor, sitting room, 17 ft. by 11 ft. ; parlour, 11 ft. 3 in. by 10 ft. ; scullery, 10 ft. by 5 ft. 6 in. On the first floor the bedrooms are 17 ft. 4 in. by 10 ft., 11 ft. bj^ 9 ft., and II ft. by 8 ft. respectively, and the bath-room 5 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. 6 in. The frontage is 27 ft. 3 in. ; the garden, 75 ft. by 38 ft. ; and the inclusive rental is 13s. a week. The pair of cottages, Nos. 22 and 24, I^ovelace Green (shown on Plate XIII.), belong to Class III. The dimensions are : On the ground floor, living room, 16 ft. 6 in. by 10 ft. 7 in., and scullery with bath, 10 ft. 6 in. by 6 ft. 6 in. On the first floor, the bedrooms measure 12 ft. 10 in. by 9 ft. i in., 12 ft. 3 in. by 7 ft. 9 in., and 9 ft. 6 in. by 7 ft. respectively. The frontage is 21 ft. 9 in. The garden of No. 22 is 55 ft. by 46 ft., and that of No. 24 is 50 ft. by 32 ft. The inclusive rental of each is lis. a week. 60 The self-contained flats are situated in Granby Road, the furthest removed from Well Hall Road. The dimensions of the ground-floor flat, No. 65 (.see Plate XVI.) are : I/iving room 13 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft. 6 in. ; bedrooms, 11 ft. by 9 ft. 9 in., and 11 ft. by 8 ft. 6 in. ; and scullery (with bath) 14 ft. by 5 ft. 9 in. The dimensions of the first floor flat. No. 65a, are : Living-room, 14 ft. 9 in. by 12 ft. 6 in. ; both bedrooms 11 ft. by 9 ft. 9 in. ; and scullery (with bath), 13 ft. by 5 ft. 9 in. They have a frontage of 33 feet, and the garden is 62 ft. by 46 ft. The inclusive rental of the first-floor flat is 7s. 6d. a week, of the ground-floor flat, 7s. The first house on the estate was let on May 22, 1915, and on December 31 of the same year only fifty of the 1,298 houses remained unoccupied. Materials. A study of the materials and the method of using them is extremely interesting. To provide these in sufficient quantities for so great an enterprise at short notice would in inany cases have proved a serious handicap to rapid progress had not the architect hit upon the happy expedient of obtaining them from as many sources as practicable, whereby not only was a prompt and steady delivery obtained, but that variety which is so notable a feature of the scheme was realised. When it is stated that the building material and plant delivered by rail and road reached the gigantic total of 252,327 tons, it will be readily understood how essential was such an arrangement. The bricks used for backings were Flettons ; but the facings came from so many brick- fields that each cannot be individually named here. They were carefully selected on the job in order to produce the ver}' pleasing combination which is seen. The same remarks apply to the tiles. Although the colour and tone of these varies from dark brown to Ught red, and dark blue to light grey, no violent contrasts offend the eye. In addition, some old tiles have been introduced. The majority of the slates were obtained from the Carnarvon district. " Greenarvon," Welsh Green " rustic randoms," used by themselves and in conjunction with " Vaingaled," and Abergynolwyn Welsh greys have given some very satisfactory results. " Old Delabole," of the rough-faced, stout, grey-green variety, are also pleasing. The timber used for the half-timber work is, for the most part, pitch-pine treated with " Solignum," and some oak has been used in weather-boarding. The scanthngs were standardised and the houses planned accordingly in order to facilitate expedition. Window and door frames have for the most part been painted white, the doors " invisible " green, though some are stained according to their surroundings. Ironwork is uniformly black. The treatment of the rough-cast, both as regards surface and colour, will repay careful study ; most of it has been applied in one coat. The oak fencing, of which there is 27J miles on the estate, is also an interesting study in variety. Below are added some detailed particulars of materials used in groups of houses shown among the accompanying illustrations as representative examples : Crescent of Houses, Well Hall Road. (Plates I.-III.) The ground floor is of red brick with rather dark pointing ; the screens connecting the three blocks being of brighter bricks with lighter pointing. The first floor and gables are tile- hung, and the roofs are covered with dark tiles. The door-frames and leaded casements are painted white, the doors dark green, and the ironwork black. Steps are of bright red brick- on-edge. > Block of Four Houses, Downman Road. (Plates V. and VI.) The ground floor is stuccoed, the first floor boarded with pitch-pine treated with " Solignum." The frames and casements are painted white, the doors stained. ' Semi- vitrified brick-on-edge has been used for the steps ; dark red tiles cover the roof ; and the chimneys are of varied bright red bricks. 61 Block of Seven Houses, Well Hall Road. (Plates V. and VII.) The facings are of thin richly coloured bricks with wide joints, a reticent introduction of blue bricks in the gables breaking up effectively the rather large area. The roofs are covered with " rustic random " slates in diminishing courses. The leaded casements have white frames, the doors being dark green. Block of Four Houses, Phineas Pett Road. (Pl,ATES VIII. AND IX.) The gables are in half timber and buff stucco, the ground floor between these being of the same material and the first floor hung with green Welsh slates, which also cover the roof (which has a blue half-round ridge). The chimneys are stuccoed, with brick caps. Casements and frames are white, doors dark green. Block of Five Houses, Sandhy Green. ^ (Plate XI.) The rough-cast is brown-grey in tone, the timber treated pitch-pine, apart froni a small amount of oak weather-boarding in the apex of one of the gables. The shoulders of the gables are in purple bricks, and steps are red brick-on-edge. Sussex stone quoins have been introduced at the angles of the porches. The casements are painted white and the ironwork black. Pair of Cottages, Lovelace Green. (Plate XIII.) The walls are grey rough-cast, with a red tiled roof and first floor. Chimnej's and steps are of brick. Frames and casements are white, doors dark green, and ironwork black. Flats in Granby Road. (Plate XVI.) Most of the houses in this road consist of self-contained flats. It is, perhaps, the best in which to study the handling and colour of the stucco, and the varied materials used for roofing. The scheme was devised by His Majesty's Ofiice of Works. Messrs. Mowlem and Company were the contractors for the roads ; and they shared equally with Messrs. I,esUe and Company the contract for the houses. There were thirty-six sub-contractors, the timber and fittings having been supplied direct by the Commissioners of His Majesty's Works and. Public Buildings. The maximum number of men employed at one time on the works was 5,637. Taking into consideration the scarcity of labour prevailing at the time, and the fact that men engaged on Government work consider themselves entitled to higher pay and better conditions than when engaged on ordinary contract work (the feeling in the present case having been accentuated by the large earnings of the employees at Woolwich Arsenal, where greater numbers were ever in demand), it is remarkable that no serious trouble resulted in this connection. The foregoing gives the essential facts and figures of the scheme. The actual results obtained can best be judged by the accompanying plates, which show, we think, that H.M. Oifice of Works have on this Well Hall Estate carried out a large housing scheme in a brilliantlv successful manner. 62 GOVERNMENT HOUSING SCHEME WELL H ALL+ ELTHAM -f K^EHTb WESTMINSTW 64 Section I u back E-levcition bt^tciiee^a Apples aD*,\e 1 41 m I |iu' ppn nr Dm IMffl prmTm Fror?t Elevation Dote [xf.'rtKil axr/li mitn aef Jfasmed !b A* one fo f^j yjrd-fup- of. SfK-^orA 5ca1e of Fee\ It M Office of tlbiir Weltraioster II.— HOUSES IN CRESCENT, WELL HALL ROAD. Olms I. {excepling middh house— Class II.) 1 I ^ i-U . i f. ' f ui S •-' S^j O u vS-M ^ :_i o ,o ^ «■ LU ^ UJ X *■ CJ oO O Si- z oO t> l_5 o a- X H Z uU :2 o- ^ u4 V > ^T O 1 o si i> f/ i 2 x5i_f < O- I- ^■•- BLOCK OF FOUR HOUSES, DOWNMAN ROAD. Clns^es /, und II WING OF BLOCK OF SEVEN HOUSES, WELL HALL KOAD, Classes I. and II. ^ ►J" *-.<:^- U i*j ♦^- a o o GoVewvoeut tloDsip^ Scberoe fobeboi/t ho/Joc3 //'/A/ot. i^arain of B c. D °f TMm ffll fflfl SectioQ H-H. .EleVatioa fltoB. - Elevation BtoC, HftOfficv offOorfy. {Sertmar/er- VII —BLOCK OF SEVEN HOUSES, WELL HALL ROAD. Classes I. and II. ■'^:::,:*^!WW>^'"*' ' '"' BLOCK OF FOUR HOUSES, PHINEAS PETT ROAD. Classes II, and III, '.-:X \:^^^^wm^- m^ BLOCK OF HOUSES, THE CINDER PATH, WELL HALL ROAD. Classes I. and II VIII. z I < 1^ I -Jo ii li- il--r< Hlf" ? Q o pi Ph l-H K W P o w p g o o >< // ^S.'VKJ 'A ■I •< !■ •■ ■« ■I ai l9 11 ii ■a iii IB in n i\ Jk JL JL it ( 'fTiPIW^ -'^" .*;™ -__*_^„ o»ffi^** -v.*;- -j^ •'^\>ft'*it_^w*'l.:r" ■* 5^" Jifc.?' ^i-ft. ^*6^. .2i:^^Sa ^^-J^■%^«MlL.^*^^^[.&-^3ile^^ : BACK- ELEVATIO/M I 70 ^ o iti m i M ii jp JO M I eiianls' lloslei. Baker's Shop at Corner of Newburn Street and Bancroft Street. v.— TWO SHOPS IN NEWBURN STREET. < z HI a: 3 o u I SCALE • ^F-I^EFT I ' JL I I I I t -I I r ( f 3o Vli. -COTTAGES JN COURTENAY SQUARE: DETAIL OF ELEVATION AND PLANS OF GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS. L '■ I LU W 2 OS D 03 3: HI z < >- «• O H CO t O f-ftntSS^HS m LU OS < 2 u H OS D O u UJ a < (- o u < o z o o z z z u :^ uT y \Z u. o U4 < H W5 ";S3:OT~n^i™i3?""r-'"""'^ -tr— I'En :iss isn 1 t--. s^ » t' IliBiH j'l^^Sg 11*«j !lf ilB US IB ^ liiiBsr 311188 ^if i^A*-!' %i»?5*i t«r'4'' I" nooR plai^ SCA.I.S ■ < z tu H a: D o u o i- u 2 < 1- Z lU H < z < z o I- o z Qi UJ a. a. c/) < a. < z o H o Oi UJ Q. a. O X H UJ i- l« HI I- c/) ULJ X u u. o Q X i- Oi o z < -J u. Z UJ Ul H X o Eu u. O O O pa I (- 114 UJ 0; H 1/) « UJ I- 1/5 UJ X u u. w Q 0^ X H P (/) z u < H ' f~ ! ' Q ," , Z < ■ A c/) h- 9 < • .. ' J a. l;^ UU > ^ J pj . ^ h- U. ^ J 1 (•^ 1 > >< > iSI '4 ,"* V^^ ' <'< DVCHYfl'CORMWALL *i«v.*». XV,— FLATS IN CHESTER STREET: DETAIL OF ELEVATION AND PLANS. — ._ <.3*- — ' ' . .~> *•—**' tmmmmm mm \t~-r//Z5r FLOOR. PLAN SCALE. 'ttt ■^omO FLOOR. PLAf^ — > or FTET /» 7 Fy <*•♦»»/ O XVI.— TWO-STOREY FLATS, CARDIGAN STREET. View from Garden. XVII.— CRECHE IN BRINCES' ROAD. ai O < < > CO uu I > X A* /> V ^ ^ 'S^^ \ PARTITIONS AND -^ BUILDING BLOCKS — Internal and External Walls. IDEAL CONSTRUCTION FOR COTTAGE HOMES. CAVITY WALL. HOLLOW BLOCK. CAVITY COMPLETE PLANT SENT TO ANY DISTRICT. LOCAL MATERIALS USED WHERE AVAILABLE. Blocks may be made of Gravel, Sand, Breeze, Ashes, Stone, &c. ADOPTED BY H.M, GOVERNMENT. FIBROUS PLASTER CEILING SLABS. J. A. KING & Co., 181, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.G. 4, Works :— Hayes, Middlesex. Rawcliffe, Yorks. And at Britannia Buildings, Leeds. " Garden City Houses. " A Companion Volume to " Houses for Workers." This is not a simple collection of views, hut a practical book for the practical man ; each example being illustrated by a photograph and scaled drawing. WITHIN the past few years houses of "garden city" type have been very popular among middle-class tenants of moderate income who desire to have a house that possesses a certain amount of rural character while at the same time being thoroughly up-to-date in its equipment. There is every indication that in the future these " garden city " houses will be in even greater demand than they are to-day. This volume, therefore, giving nearly loo plates of selected examples, together with a model specification, is of very great value to all builders who are concerned with estate development. It illustrates the work of leading architects who have given special considera- tion to this type of house, and embraces a great variety of treatments. The plates show not only the exteriors of the houses and their plans, but also details of their interior fittings, such as staircases, doors, chimneypieces, panelling, dressers, pantries, &c. They are of a good size, and the drawings and photographs, having all been specially prepared for the purpose, represent the work' in the most complete manner possible. Price 3s. 6d. (post free 3s. lid.). Size 12i in. by 9 in. Technical Journals. Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. The Architect's Library of Plates. A SERIES OF VALUABLE PORTFOLIOS. THE practising architect needs to have at hand, for reference, illustrations of Architectural Subjects which are of direct value to him in his everyday work, and to meet this need The ARCHrrECTs' and Builders' Journal have for a long time included in each issue a series of large plates selected with special care. So successful have these plates proved, that it has been decided to republish them in portfolio form, each portfolio comprising about 50 plates, complete with index, so that immediate reference to any particular example maj- be made with facility. The following fourteen series are now ready, and further portfolios w"ill be issued from time to time : — Series I (48 plates). French Empire Furniture. Vases. Neo- Grec Detail. Roman Ornament. Restora- tions of Ancient Buildings. Series II (43 plates). Tablets and Inscriptions. French Monu- ments. Series III (54 plates). Designs by Daniel Marot. Designs by Krafft. Cottingham's Designs for Ironwork. Series IV (38 plates). Modern Shop Fronts. The Old Town Hall, Manchester. Georgian Interior Decoration. Series V (SO plates). Nineteenth-century French Architecture. Nineteenth-century English Architecture. Palace de Justice, Brussels. Palace In- teriors. Florentine Palaces. Series VI (16plates,with explanatory letterpress) Practical Chart of Town - planning. Schemes under the Act. Series VIII (£0 plates). Current Architecture. — I. Series IX (50 plates). Current Architecture — I. (coiitiimcd). Series X (SO plates). Current Architecture — II. Series XI (50 plates). Modern Domestic Architecture. — I. Series XII (50 plates). Monumental Architecture. Series XIII (SO plates). Architects' Working Drawings. Series XIV (50 plates). Modern American Architecture. Series XV (50 plates). Details of Craftsmanship. Fourteen Portfolios. Price 7/6 each nett. Over 700 Plates. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Housing the Workers In housing the workers, a prime necessity is to equip each separate dwelhng in such a way that it can be run with the maximum of comfort and the minimum of labour. Hence the growing popularity of the "all-gas kitchen," complete with gas cooker, gas hre, gas water-heater, gas washing copper and gas refuse destructor. The House or Cottage. The convenience, reliability, and cleanliness of such an installation amply compensate for its extra cost as compared with solid fuel ; and this financial divergence can be reduced to a low figure if the gas is consumed on the slot meter principle by which the pence or shillings dropped into the meter cover the entire cost of the fitting, hire and maintenance of the apparatus as well as the charge for gas. The slot meter is an excellent check on consumption and a direct aid to economy. With regard to the convenience and reliability of gas apparatus nothing need be said here ; these qualities are well known and appreciated. It may be mentioned, however, that their cleanliness makes it quite possible to use the kitchen as a living room, especially where a scullery is available as a wash-house. The Tenement or Block 57 The same principles may be adapted for communal dwelling-houses. In each flat a gas cooker in the kitchen and in the scullery and a gas copper supplying hot water to a tip-up bath can be supplemented by a coke boiler in the basement providing hot water for heating purposes to the whole block. With coke at post-war prices this convenience need not add appreciably to the weekly rent, and would greatly simplify the housewife's task. When new blocks were being erected it might be found eminently practicable to turn a portion of the basement into a .communal wash-house, fitted up with gas coppers and other necessary appliances, the use of which could be secured on the payment of a small fixed charge to cover the cost of gas, wear and tear, &c. Whatever be the type of building it is to the interest at once of the individual and of the nation that the combustion of crude coal should be as far as possible eliminated in favour of that of gas and gas coke, in the production of which the valuable substances resident in coal and otherwise lost are recovered for the country's use and profit. Readers of this paper are invited to write for the special " All-Gas House " number of "/I Thousand and One Uses for Gas," together with any other information they may require, to the Secretary, The British Commercial Gas Association, 47, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. T. 332- The Practical Exemplar of Architecture. Selected by MERVYN E. MACARTNEY, B.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. TO secure a complete representation of architecture, it is necessary to encompass the resources of the photographer and the skill of the draughtsman. By these means a pictorial record is obtained, and at the same time there are ready to hand drawings which show, the design in elevation, plan, and section, together with details of the enrichment and construction. It is precisely because " Tl-IE Pr.4CTICAL EXEMI'LAR " series gives this complete representation of some of the finest examples of architecture to be found in the Kingdom that it has been so warmly received. The drawings, expressly prepared for this publication, are themselves admirable examples of accurate, clear, and artistic draughtsmanship. The plates are of very great variety, comprising illustrations of admirable examples of chimney-pieces, gates, panelling, doorways, ironwork, staircases, windows, and a score of other features which thq Architect can make practical use of Complete list of Plates will be sent on application. Five Portfolios (13i in. by 9i in.) Price £1 Is. Each next. Over 550 Plates. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Practical Notes for Architectural Draughtsmen. By A. W. S. CROSS, M.A., F.R.I.B.A., and ALAN E. MUNBY, M.A., F.R.I.B.A. AT a time when classical architecture is coining more and more into vogue, it is essential that the draughtsman should be able to set out " The Orders " in a rapid and precise manner Such facility can only be acquired by familiarity with the best methods of setting up drawings. It is the special object of this volume to show these methods. The plates are not confined to " The Orders " proper, but embrace their application to windows, doorways, arcading, niches, &c., and include also a number of large illustrations of domes, staircases, and other constructional features, as well as plates illustrating the best methods of setting up per- spectives and the projection of shadows. LIST OF PLATES CONTAINED IN Part I. The Orders and their Application. Plate Plate Part II. Plate 1. Introduction. 2. The Four Orders. „ 3. The Tuscan and Doric Orders in detail. 4. The Ionic and Corinthian Orders in detail. Part III. ,b. Details of Imposts and Arch Moulds. Plate C. Order upon Order and Inter- columniation. 7. Doorways and Pediments. «. Windows and Entablatures. " 9. WindowSjRusticatedTreatment Part IV. 10. Venetian and other Windows. Plate 11. Niches and their Treatment. 12 Block Cornices, Balusters, „ Entablatures, and Entasis. Part V. Details of the Orders. Plate 13. Rules for setting out the Volutes of the Ionic Capital by (1) Gibbs, and (2) Vignola and Palladio. I I One Portfolio (19 in. by 14 in.). Price £1 I PORTFOLIO. 14. Details of Ionic and Corinthian Capitals. 15. Examples of Arcading (Ionic and Doric). 16. Examples of Arcading (Tuscan and Corinthian. Constructional Details. 17. Domes. 18. Pendentives, Circular Stair- cases, and Wreathed Columns. 19. Gothic Tracery and Vaulting. Perspective. 20. Notes on Architectural Per- spective. 21. Setting up a Perspective. Shadows. 22. Explanatory matter regarding the projection of Shadows. 23-27. Examples illustrating Shadows on various archi- tectural details. ». fett. 27 Plates. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Standard Details. Specially prepared for the use of Students in Technical Schools, Universities, &c. THIS volume has been prepared with the special object of providing very large plates of exterior and interior details which may be regarded as Standard " details of their several periods. The drawings themselves are of superb quality— it would, indeed, be impossible to excel them as specimens of line draughtsmanship, and included on the plates are small photographic reproductions of the actual work. LIST OF THE SUBJECTS ILLUSTRATED. Staircase at Thorpe Hall (2 plates).— One of the finest examples of a seventeenth- century English staircase, richly wrought and carved. Porch at Rainham (2 plates).— A very grace- ful design, executed in wood, dating from the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century. King's Bench Walk Doorways (3 plates).— By Wren, displaying all his skill in the use of brickwork. Panelling and Chimneypiece in New River Company's Offices (5 plates). — As an example of the Later English Renaissance nothing finer than this room could be conceived. The carved enrichments are in the manner of Grinling Gibbons. Judge's House, Salisbury (2 plates).— A dig- nified Georgian house fa?ade, dating from the early years of the eighteenth century. Exterior Brickwork from Enfield (2 plates). — Part of a late seventeenth-century house, now in the South Kensington Museum Library Chimneypiece, Thorpe Hall (1 plate). — An example of the Early Renais- sance. Staircase in Guildhall, Rochester (1 plate). — Of the Wren period — a simple but sturdy design, full of interest. Dining-room Chimneypiece, Bourdon House, London (1 plate). — Executed in the eighteenth century from a design by Inigo Jones, with a firegrate of the Adam period. Staircase in Cromwell House, Highgate (4 plates). — The most wonderful staircase of its period — the Cromwellian. Chimneypiece ascribed to Settignano in South Kensington Museum (2 plates). — A Florentine example of the late fifteenth century, finely executed in marble. One Portfolio. Price 15s. nett. 25 Plates wi?h Portfolio. Cheap Edition, 7s. 6d. each. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. A Short Chronological History of British Architecture. THE greatest achievements of British architecture are presented as a coup d'ceil in this attractive volume. Thus, in Section I. we survey the work of the cathedral builders ; in Section II. notable examples of the Early Renaissance, such as Hatfield and Montacute ; in Section III. the great buildings of the Later Renaissance, such as Blenheim Palace, Greenwich Hospital, and the Dublin Customs House, with the addition of Newgate Prison, St. George's Hall, Liverpool, and a few similar examples that carry us into the nineteenth century ; the survey concluding with a fine series of illustrations of work by Sir Aston Webb, Mr. Ernest Newton, Mr. Mervyn Macartney, and other eminent architects of the present day. The letterpress accompanying the illustrations is written by acknowledged authorities, and sets forth in brief order the entire chronological development, following the succeeding phases of architectural art, and supplying those essential facts which are necessary to a proper estimate of the whole. CONTENTS : section I. (1050-1550). Summary of ENGLISH MEDIEVAL AKCHITI'XTURE. By Edward S. Prior, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. SECTION 11.(15161650). Summary of EARLY RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE. By J. Alfred Gotch, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A, SECTION III. Summary of LATER RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE. By Mervyn E. Macartney, B.A., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. SECTIONS IV. AND v. Contain a valuable List of the Principal Architects of the English Later Renais- sance, and their chief authenticated and reputed wotks, with dates, and a number of fine examples of work by living Architects. Beautifully printed on heavy art paper. 12i-in. by 9-in. 150 pages. Price I5s. nett (post free inland). Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street Westminster, S.W. 1. And of all Newsagents and noDksellers. Some Famous Buildings and their Story. By A. W. CLAPHAM, F.S.A., and W. H. GODFREY. T)UILDINGS that have been the scene of historical events, or have played ■»— ' a distinctive part in the development of national life, are commonly dealt with either at length in a most unattractive style, or dismissed in a few sentences embodying dates and particulars which are frequently inaccurate. It was with the express object of correcting these deficiencies in respect of certain famous buildings that the authors compiled the series of short papers which constitute the volume under notice. They have been at great pains in their task, and, as the result of much original research, a flood of fresh light is thrown upon the subjects dealt with. The book is written in a most interesting style, and is a veritable mine of information. One Volume (10 in. by 6iin.). Price 5/- nett. 275 Pages. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. The Etchings of Piranesi. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY Prof. C. H. REILLY, M.A., F.R.I.B.A. GIOVANNI BATTISTA PIRANESI is unquestionably the greatest architectural etcher the world has ever seen. With skill and imagination he depicted the classic architecture of Rome, his great folios being filled with re- presentations of the mighty buildings of the Eternal City, and, with equal care and skill, a wonderful array of vases, friezes, and other details that played their part in the ornamentation of Roman buildings. He also produced the amazing series of etchings called Le Carceri d' Invenzione. Piranesi's etchings have now become extremely valuable. It will readily be appreciated, therefore, that the careful selection of a hundred plates and their reproduction in these two volumes is a work of peculiar interest. Never indeed, has so comprehensive a series of Piranesi's etchings been offered at so low a price. Two Volumes (9|in. by 6 in.). Price 3/- each nett. Post free (inland), 3/4. 50 Plates each Vol. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Recent English Domestic Architecture. P'NGLISH houses have so long established themselves in the forefront of L-t domestic architecture that the distinctive qualities which they exhibit need not be enlarged upon ; no houses excel them for quiet dignity, appropriate treatment, and charm of effect. English architects have enjoyed a unique legacy in the mansions of the Tudor .and Renaissance periods, and the delightful character of these examples has been an ever-failing inspiration for modern work. Of great interest and value are these volumes dealing with recent examples of English Domestic Architecture, by architects whose ability in this branch of work is acknowledged and admired. Great care has been exercised in the selection of the examples, which are illustrated by means of photographs re- produced to a large size and accompanied by plans and descriptive particulars. The volumes are no mere picture-books. They are very complete in their scope, embracing not only general exterior and interior views, but also details of decorative work in the houses illustrated. Garden design, too, has received adequate attention. Three Volumes (13 in. by 81 in.). Over 200 Pages each. Price 10/6 nett. Technical Journals. Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Recent English Ecclesiastical Architecture. THE ecclesiastical buildings of the prominent exponents of the Gothic revival — Pugin, Scott, Butteriield, and the rest — have already been fully illustrated, but never before has there been brought together a representative series of photographs of recent the work of English church architects. Examples of the best modern church work are included, the illustrations being from specially- taken photographs reproduced to a large size. Much care has been exercised in the selection of the examples which, moreover, are not confined to any one style or creed. It is a volume which appeals to all who have an interest in modern church work, but more especially to the architect who is called upon to evolve the design and superintend the erection of church buildings. One Volume (13 in. by 9 in.). 230 Pages. Price 10/6 next. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. Specification for Architects {With which is included " Municipal Engineers' Specification "). In all English-speaking countries Specification is the recognised Standard ■*■ Authority on the many subjects with which an Architect must deal when' preparing his Specifications. The work is at once concise and comprehensive, and so vast a mass of practical information is not to be found in any other single volume. Every Section has been written by an accredited authority, and the annual revision comprises the contributions of scores of qualified specialists of recognised standing in their several departments. Important new features of topical as well as permanent interest are contributed to each new edition. Issued in January of each Year. Over 500 Pages. Price 3/6 nett. Postage, 7d. inland. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. The Rebuilding of Belgium. EVERY far-seeing business man knows that the resolii- lions adopted unanimously at ihe Allies' Economic Conference held in Paris Opened up tremendous opportunities for the future. In order to derive full benefits from the policy to be adopted, it is essential for English contractors and manufacturers to acquaint themselves with all the requirements and conditions affecting their business on the Continent. An enlightening and valuable book embodying the needs of Belgium with respect to the Building Trade has been written by two eminent Belgians for the express purpose of showing English contractors and manufacturers frankly anti clearly how this side of the Belgian trade is to be captured. Every contractor and manufacturer should have a copy. Price 1/- nett. Postage Id. inland. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. \. French-English Glossary of Archi- tectural and Building Trade Terms. IT seems to be evident that the French language will be almost an essential under the new conditions of trade which are so rapidly opening before contractors and manufacturers. No ordinary knowledge of French, however, includes technical and trade terms, and such terms are not to be found in the ordinary dictionary. The book contains a useful collection of words and phrases most commonly in use in the building and kindred industries -just those very terms which are most difficult to find when they are wanted. Such a book is practically an essential to every manufacturer and contractor. Price 1/- nett. Postage Id. inland. Technical Journals, Ltd., 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W. 1. An Interesting Record of the Town of Louvain & Reims Cathedral Before and After Destruction. LOUVAIN and Reims, at the hand of the Germans, have suffered irreparable damage. Hence the interest of the present volume, which with, its rich store of illustrations, shows what glorious handiwork has perished by bombardment and by fire. LOUVAIN — a town whose Hotel de Ville, pinnacled and fretted, stood foremost among the Gothic buildings of its kind in Belgium, whose great church had witnessed the whole history of Flanders and of Brabant, whose University had stood as a centre of learning for a whole nation. REIMS — the very crown and flower of French Gothic whose embellishment was a miracle of sculpture and stained glass. Price 3/6 nett. Post Free (inland) 3/10. Technical Journals, Ltd. 27-29, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W.I. ^' J-ij: r I '^f^'^fftl \, iMn^ Vji if^; m J. /A^ ' l[f t^'M^^.i K< ,■* Jf Mt^i V > 1 «■. f " I * ■•1.^ y J ■■ * fir, .'. ■M'S ■>m