Model dwellings were buildings or estates constructed, mostly during theVictorian era, alongphilanthropic lines to provide decent living accommodation for theworking class. They were typically erected by privatemodel dwellings companies and usually with the aim of making a return on investment, hence the description of the movement as "five per cent philanthropy."[1] As such they were forerunners of modern-daymunicipal housing.
This is a list of still-standing model dwellings, organised by builder. Most of these companies are now defunct; a few, such as thePeabody Trust are still operating and building new accommodation, and others have been subsumed by larger firms. This list covers urban development on the principle of "five per cent philanthropy"; for communities built to house workers for a particular trade or employer, seemodel village orcompany town.
The Artizans' Company (ALGDC) was established in 1867 by William Austin, becoming one of the largest of the model dwellings companies in the late Victorian era. It was best known for its large, low-rise,suburban estates inLondon. It was later subsumed intoSun Life Financial.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Noel Park[2] | Wood Green, London | 1882–1929 |
| Pinnerwood Park[3] | Pinner, London | 1932–1935 |
| Queen's Park[4] | Kilburn, London | 1874–1881 |
| Shaftesbury Park[5] | Battersea, London | 1872–1877 |
| Leigham Court[6] | Streatham, London | 1889–1928 |
| Crawford Buildings[7] | Marylebone, London | 1893 |
| Wendover Court (formerly East Street Buildings)[8] | Marylebone, London | 1890-1891 |
| Seymour Buildings[9] | Marylebone, London | 1889 |
The Chester Cottage Improvement Company was founded in 1892,[10] and was a particular concern of theDuke of Westminster.[11]
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Priory Place[12][13][14] | Chester,Cheshire | 1898 |
The EEDC was founded bySamuel Barnett and others in 1882 in order to provide particularly for the area that is now theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Museum House[15] | Burnham Road,Bethnal Green, London | 1888 |
| Dunstan Houses[16] | Stepney Green, London | 1899 |
| Thornhill Houses[17] | Thornhill Road,Barnsbury, London | 1902 |
| Whidborne Buildings[18] | Kings Cross, London | 1890s |
The Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company (ECBC) was founded by a group of stonemasons inEdinburgh in 1861. By 1872 they had built nearly 1,000 houses in six parts of Edinburgh andLeith,[19] commonly known ascolony houses.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeyhill Colonies[20] | London Road,Abbeyhill, Edinburgh | |
| Dalry Colonies[21] | Dalry, Edinburgh | 1868–1870 |
| Shaftesbury Park | Shandon, Edinburgh | 1883–1904 |
| Stockbridge Colonies[21] | Glenogle Road,Stockbridge, Edinburgh | 1861–1867 |
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Stepney Green Court[22] | Stepney Green, London | 1896 |
| Navarino Mansions[23] | Dalston Lane,Hackney | 1903-5 |
| Mocatta House[24] | Brady Street,Whitechapel, London | 1905 |
| Evelina Mansions[25] | Camberwell, London | 1900 |
| Rebecca House[26] | Mile End, London | 1933 |
The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (IIDC) was founded by the stationer (and laterLord Mayor)Sir Sydney Waterlow in 1863.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Asmun's Hill cottages | Hampstead Garden Suburb, London | 1909 |
| Clarendon Buildings[27] | Balderton Street, Westminster, London | 1872 |
| Cobden Buildings[28] | King's Cross Road, London | 1865 |
| Cromwell Building[29] | Redcross Way,Camberwell, London | 1864 |
| Derby Buildings[30] | Wicklow Street, Camden Town, London | c.1865 |
| Grosvenor Estate[31] (now operated byPeabody Trust) | Brownhart Gardens,Mayfair, London | 1886–1982 |
| Leopold Buildings[32] | Bakers Rents, Poplar, London | 1872 |
| Stanley Buildings[33] | Midland Road, Camden Town, London | 1865 |
| Tower Buildings[34] | Brewhouse Lane, Wapping, London | 1864 |
| Waterlow Court[35][36] | Hampstead Garden Suburb, London | 1907–1909 |
The MAIDIC was the first company to be formed for the specific purpose of providing model homes, in 1844. It built mainly within London.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Cottages[37] | Stepney, London | 1858 |
| Alexandra Cottages[38][39] | Penge, London | 1866–1868 |
| Gibson Gardens[40][41] | Stoke Newington, London | 1880 |
| Howard House[42][43] | Deal Street, Stepney, London | 1864 |
| Victoria Cottages[44] | Woodseer Street, Stepney, London | 1864 |
The Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (NUTIIDC) was founded by James Hall[45] in 1859.[46]
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Garth Heads Industrial Workers' Dwellings[47] | Byker,Newcastle upon Tyne | 1869–1878 |
The Peabody Trust was set up following a huge gift for the poor of London from the bankerGeorge Peabody in 1862.[48] It became one of the largest providers of model housing for the working classes.
This company was founded inEdinburgh in 1849 and built the earliest model dwellings (seecolony houses) in Edinburgh. The work of the PMDC was an inspiration toHenry Roberts, who went on to become one of the most prolific architects of model housing.[56]
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Shaw Colonies[57][58][59] | Shaw's Place,Edinburgh,Scotland | 1849–1862 |
The SICLC was one of the earliest model dwellings companies. It grew out of theLabourer's Friend Society into a housing provider in 1844 and built a number of properties in London, most of which no longer exist.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction |
|---|---|---|
| Dimsdale Street (built to SICLC pattern for theGreat Exhibition) | 11 Cowbridge,Hertford,Hertfordshire | 1852 |
| Parnell House[60] | Streatham Street,Camden Town | 1849 |
| Turner Court[61][62] | St Luke's Street,Hull,East Riding of Yorkshire | 1862 |
A number of other schemes were built by private individuals or other concerns.
| Name of dwelling | Location | Date of construction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friary Close | Marmion Road, Portsmouth | 1851 | Gothic style. ArchitectThomas Ellis Owen. Comprises 24 individual dwellings and one shop on the Friary Close frontage.[63] |
| New Court[64] | Streatley Place,Hampstead, London | 1854 | Block of 30 flats, built for Hugh Jackson, solicitor. |
| Rosebank Cottages | Edinburgh, Scotland | 1854–1860 | Built by Sir James Gowans[65] for "the better class of mechanics and others."[66][67] Modelled on the Pilrig cottages.[21] |