Fireman Sam
knowlegable brummie
Looking at this forum pic from a post in the Kensington Rd thread I can see some prefabs in Woodside Rd Selly Park.
In a 1945 aerial view there are also some prefabs visible in Selly Ave.
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Prefabs
- Thread starter Charlie
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Fireman Sam
knowlegable brummie
Having read most of the contributors to this subject. many would think that living in a prefab was a very pleasant experience.
I lived in one of them on Wake Green Road for 23 years and while we liked having two decent sized bedrooms, a good lounge, a fitted kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet, they were cold in the winter and hot in the summer. The only heating was by way of a coal fire in the lounge so the bedrooms were icy cold, unless we could afford an electric fire in the colder months. There was an electric heater on the hot tank for hot water but that cost an arm and a leg to run. The aluminium framed windows would ice up on the inside occasionally. My mother was a young war widow so times were hard. We were happy though.
We of course knew all of our neighbours on our side of the road as those living opposite in 'proper houses' seemed to resent us being there as we probably spoilt their view, or was it snobbery? We've kept in touch with some of the children who lived in the prefabs close to us and that's not bad as we moved in in 1946!
I lived in one of them on Wake Green Road for 23 years and while we liked having two decent sized bedrooms, a good lounge, a fitted kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet, they were cold in the winter and hot in the summer. The only heating was by way of a coal fire in the lounge so the bedrooms were icy cold, unless we could afford an electric fire in the colder months. There was an electric heater on the hot tank for hot water but that cost an arm and a leg to run. The aluminium framed windows would ice up on the inside occasionally. My mother was a young war widow so times were hard. We were happy though.
We of course knew all of our neighbours on our side of the road as those living opposite in 'proper houses' seemed to resent us being there as we probably spoilt their view, or was it snobbery? We've kept in touch with some of the children who lived in the prefabs close to us and that's not bad as we moved in in 1946!
An upcoming event at Wake Green. The link below is an interesting site, with more info - not just Brum prefabs. Viv.
https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/moving-prefab/
https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/moving-prefab/
Hi Grea. I can't see any details about booking, but in one of the publications it's says last year they issued tickets. So it might be best to drop them an email to:
[email protected]
Viv.
[email protected]
Viv.
Fireman Sam
knowlegable brummie
As a former resident of these very prefabs, (I lived there for 25 years) I'm tempted to attend but think I'll be giving it a miss as I live in Lancashire these days. Of course, I've got many memories of growing up there, mostly happy.
The prefabs were very cold in the winter with paper thin dividing walls and only a coal fire in the lounge for heating. We also had an electric immersion heater for hot water. I remember the council installing a fridge in the kitchen - such luxury! It had BTH on the front.
jukebox
Engineer Brummie
Brings back a few memories oldMokawk! I was brought up in Knightsbridge Road, off Highwood Avenue, just off the top right corner of your picture. Each walkway through the prefabs was named after a flower or shrub and were in alphabetical order starting, if I remember correctly, with Azalea Lane (I think it was Lane!) the only other one I can remember is Nepeta (Lane). I wonder if there's a map or list of the other names. I remember that on a still day, for some reason the smoke from the chimneys didn't go up into the air but ran down along the roof and into the footpaths or gardens. I don't know if that was the same with all prefabs.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
There seems to be very little information about this large estate of prefabs. I can't even seem to find a date when they were demolished.
A Google Earth view 1945
Today's view.
Hi all. If nobody objects I shall drop a line to the prefabmuseum and refer them to this thread as I'm sure they'll be interested in the comments on here. I shall also ask them if you just turn up to the September events or if you need tickets. Shall report back. Viv.
Update: I have now emailed the prefab museum. Viv.
Update: I have now emailed the prefab museum. Viv.
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Lady Penelope
master brummie
I didn't know that they built pre-fabs on this sort of estate. I had always assumed that they only built them on the edges of parkland. Another thing I've learned from this site.
jukebox
Engineer Brummie
The ones I have marked in Blue were certainly still there in the early 60's (a friend lived in one for a while) although I have a feeling many of the others were demolished earlier. The buildings marked in Red were prefab shops fronting Lode Lane, Castle Lane & Faulkner Road. They were as far as I remember Nissen Huts with the front wall converted to a shop front. There was a chemist (Donnai), a hardware store, a greengrocers and several others. They were demolished long before the prefab houses when the Hobs Moat shops were built.
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charliewag
knowlegable brummie
Use to have a work mate who lived in one of the prefabs in Umberslade Road, they where cracking homes, a little cold in winter though.
For those planning to go along to the September event mentioned in post #192 I've had the following advice from the Prefab Museum:
"This year we are not ticketing the open weekend but would appreciate if you could let your members know, if they intend to come along, to contact Vicki Cox [email protected] to give her an idea of numbers. If you could also mention that there may be some queuing and waiting we would be grateful".
Viv.
"This year we are not ticketing the open weekend but would appreciate if you could let your members know, if they intend to come along, to contact Vicki Cox [email protected] to give her an idea of numbers. If you could also mention that there may be some queuing and waiting we would be grateful".
Viv.
Prefab Museum
New Member
Hi, I'm Jane from the Prefab Museum. We are working with Birmingham Conservation Trust and 20th Century Society West Midlands on a conservation plan for the Wake Green Road prefabs. When the group of 16 were listed Grade II in 1998 repairs were made to the roofs which unfortunately made the problem worse. As tenants complained, they were offered alternative accommodation so some of the prefabs have been vacant for some time - one for nine years - hence their rather sad appearance.
Historic England has commissioned us to find out what local people think about them and what they would like to see. If anyone is interested in contributing to this consultation please email [email protected] or come along to the open weekend. There may come a 'tipping point' where the prefabs become an eyesore, so time is of the essence! Many thanks and look forward to seeing some of you at the open weekend.
Prefab Museum
New Member
Thank you Viv!
Fireman Sam
knowlegable brummie
Fireman Sam
knowlegable brummie
Having lived in one of the Wake Green Road prefabs for 25 years, of course I have feelings towards them. However, bearing in mind their current state and the possible high cost of keeping them in a liveable condition, I call into question the relative worth of doing so.
What's important however is to preserve one of it's type in a more sympathetic setting and maybe the current location isn't right.
There's a story to tell about these prefabs -
Where did the people come from who were initially housed in them? We were from all over Birmingham and these were of course council houses and the people in the private houses opposite perhaps were not too pleased about that. It spoit their view as well.
Who assembled the prefabs? I'm not sure but I know that German POW's (retained after WW2) laid the paving stones outside.
Were there many children living in the prefabs? Yes, I can recall at least eight. Remember of course that they were only two bedroomed so some families move out when their families grew in size. As time progressed many older people moved in.
Was there a community spirit amongst the prefab people? Definately so. I recall sharing basic food items like sugar and tea with other families. It was just after the war of course and rationing was still in place. One of our neighbours bought a radio that could receive Radio Luxembourg - what a joy! We'd go and spend an evening listening to it. No one had a TV until well into the 50's. Phones? Never!
I remember that we had a red box outside the end prefab (No 427) which was linked into the fire brigade. I can't recall it ever being used.
I'm still in touch with three other residents, one lives in Redditch, one in Bromsgrove and the other in Canada!
What's important however is to preserve one of it's type in a more sympathetic setting and maybe the current location isn't right.
There's a story to tell about these prefabs -
Where did the people come from who were initially housed in them? We were from all over Birmingham and these were of course council houses and the people in the private houses opposite perhaps were not too pleased about that. It spoit their view as well.
Who assembled the prefabs? I'm not sure but I know that German POW's (retained after WW2) laid the paving stones outside.
Were there many children living in the prefabs? Yes, I can recall at least eight. Remember of course that they were only two bedroomed so some families move out when their families grew in size. As time progressed many older people moved in.
Was there a community spirit amongst the prefab people? Definately so. I recall sharing basic food items like sugar and tea with other families. It was just after the war of course and rationing was still in place. One of our neighbours bought a radio that could receive Radio Luxembourg - what a joy! We'd go and spend an evening listening to it. No one had a TV until well into the 50's. Phones? Never!
I remember that we had a red box outside the end prefab (No 427) which was linked into the fire brigade. I can't recall it ever being used.
I'm still in touch with three other residents, one lives in Redditch, one in Bromsgrove and the other in Canada!
An interesting addition to this thread. Thanks Fireman Sam. Viv.
S
Stitcher
Guest
This is another article from the Evening Mail.
Although prefabs were meant to be a quick fix to the 1940s housing need, there were problems in getting prefab sites ready. Birmingham Mail reported on the problems faced by contractors in finding labourers.
Didn't know prefabs were built on slabs - these were the only foundations ! Viv.
Didn't know prefabs were built on slabs - these were the only foundations ! Viv.
