-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team -
HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
we are now using a backup solution
Prefabs
- Thread starter Charlie
- Start date
pjmburns
master brummie
Forgot to post these as I took them when the forum was down.
Not a lot to see but rubbish piling up outside one pair and a skip being filled. Also a load of security fencing is now piled up inside the present fencing - perhaps suggesting more prefabs are going tobefenced off.
Did drive past this week and men were working but there wasn't much change from when I took these pics.
It is easier to take pics on a Sunday as in the week the view is often obscured by builders vans.
Not a lot to see but rubbish piling up outside one pair and a skip being filled. Also a load of security fencing is now piled up inside the present fencing - perhaps suggesting more prefabs are going tobefenced off.
Did drive past this week and men were working but there wasn't much change from when I took these pics.
It is easier to take pics on a Sunday as in the week the view is often obscured by builders vans.
Attachments
These were the prefabs in Metchley Lane photographed by Phyllis Nicklin in 1966. The view is looking towards Metchley Abbey. The prefabs have long gone.
Viv.
Viv.
Richard Dye
master brummie
Such a start contrast in building style/structure! Also, when you consider the dire need for housing when prefabs were developed. Many will never know or understand the need.
Janice's link in post #532 listed the work to be done (extract below). Good to see they're replacing original doors and porch with 1940s replicas. Have to say I flinched when I read 'Crittall' windows will also be installed. My experience of these is cold, and frosty windows with rotting and rusting frames. Hopefully the new version is improved ! And they're adding secondary glazing, so that will be better. And nice that picket fences will again be installed. All sounds very promising. Viv
pjmburns
master brummie
Wake Green Road update:
Last week all I saw was full skips being removed and replaced with empty ones. This week the empty skips are fillng up. I also saw two workmen carrying something I thought was destined for a skip but ...no. They carried through an open doorway past a no entry sign. Had to laugh as they manoevred it round so it would go in easily. A case of "to me, to you"
Last week all I saw was full skips being removed and replaced with empty ones. This week the empty skips are fillng up. I also saw two workmen carrying something I thought was destined for a skip but ...no. They carried through an open doorway past a no entry sign. Had to laugh as they manoevred it round so it would go in easily. A case of "to me, to you"
Attachments
Last edited:
thanks for the update jan...thing are on the move againWake Green Road update:
Last week all I saw was full skips being removed and replaced with empty ones. This week the empty skips are fillng up. I also saw two workmen carrying something I thought was destined fr a skip but ...no. They carried through an open doorway past a not entry sign. Had to laugh as they manoevred it round so it would go in easily. A case of "to me, to you"
lyn
Moor End Lad
master brummie
Paul Higgins is right; there were around a dozen prefabs between the main entrance to Pype Hayes Park and around into Eachelhurst Road. I recall only two in Eachelhurst Road, but there may have been more at an earlier date. There is a photograph of the Chester Road prefabs in Marian Baxter & Peter Drake's compendium of Erdington photos page 92.
There was also a small estate of prefabs on the opposite side of the road next to the Congregational Church. I used to walk two sisters home there from Yenton School when I was very young.
A further line of prefabs fronted the HP Sauce Sports Ground in Grange Road. The front gardens were always immaculate. They survived until the late 1970s.
pjmburns
master brummie
This week's update on Wake Green Road prefabs.
More actvity outside some of the prefabs. Skips have gone from some and a digger was seen piling up soil. At the next property there was a pile of soil, I also spotted one man strimming grass. I wonder if they are getting ready to put in new water pipes or electric cables?
Other properties still had skips outside in various states of fullness. (If that is proper English?) I mean some empty, some partially full and some ready for removal.
More actvity outside some of the prefabs. Skips have gone from some and a digger was seen piling up soil. At the next property there was a pile of soil, I also spotted one man strimming grass. I wonder if they are getting ready to put in new water pipes or electric cables?
Other properties still had skips outside in various states of fullness. (If that is proper English?) I mean some empty, some partially full and some ready for removal.
Attachments
Last edited:
A report on the effect of prefab design on household routines, special reference to prefab kitchens. Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Source: British Newspaper Archive
pjmburns
master brummie
Wake Green update:
more concrete at the end of last week. Pipe snaking its way in through the front door of one of the prefabs. When I went past this week the door was open to the same property and it looked as if it had a new concrete floor. (Didn't manage a picture because of the security fencing.) Not much else happening outside this week.
more concrete at the end of last week. Pipe snaking its way in through the front door of one of the prefabs. When I went past this week the door was open to the same property and it looked as if it had a new concrete floor. (Didn't manage a picture because of the security fencing.) Not much else happening outside this week.
Attachments
On the history of prefabs in this country "The Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act 1944 aimed to deliver 300,000 units within 10 years, within a budget of £150 million.
Through use of the wartime production facilities and creation of common standards developed by the Ministry of Works, the programme got off to a good start and, of 1.2 million new houses built between 1945 and 1951 when the programme officially ended, only 156,623 prefab houses were constructed. Source: Wikipaedia
This must have been an advert to promote and demonstrate the new 'temporary' housing in Birmingham . Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Through use of the wartime production facilities and creation of common standards developed by the Ministry of Works, the programme got off to a good start and, of 1.2 million new houses built between 1945 and 1951 when the programme officially ended, only 156,623 prefab houses were constructed. Source: Wikipaedia
This must have been an advert to promote and demonstrate the new 'temporary' housing in Birmingham . Viv
Source: British Newspaper Archive
But it wasn't all plain sailing as far as these prefabricated buiddings were concerned. Just six years later ....
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Source: British Newspaper Archive
RobT
Acemeccanoman
Last week (forgot to post
Attachments
Last edited:
Richard Dye
master brummie
Looking through this thread and all of the wonderful posts/contributions, back in the day people were so glad to have something like that to live in. Not so much I don’t think today!
Rita Hawkins
master brummie
No, today everyone wants at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with central heating and a conservatory
I lived in Stonehouse during WW2 and remember well the communal shelter which I often frequented with my family, my father was our local ARW, this later became Harry Webbs excellent brain child 'Stonehouse Gang'. I can also visualise the nissen huts and along with my mates having pudding helpings from the Army cook house. When the huts were finished with they became living quarters for returning soldiers to occupy with wives needing a home. My friends brother was the first to occupy, not long before others joined. I heard the sound of the ack ack gun quite local and the barrage balloons. The Anderson shelters were often wet, draughty and bitterly cold. Those were the days
Richard Dye
master brummie
You mean thy don't want to light the coal fire to keep warm and get hot water
Time Traveller 66
master brummie
Hopefully will end up looking like new . Thanks for the updates.
