January 25, 2024 - “All is Solid Here”: Pioneer Model Housing in London 1840-1880

Speaker: Rebecca Preston, Historian, English Heritage London
Interlocutor: Andrew Saint, Author & General Editor, the Survey of London
In this recorded talk, we explored London's model housing schemes during the 1840s, addressing the challenges of insanitary dwellings and overcrowding amid a housing crisis. We started with The Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes (SICLC) and architect Henry Roberts, who pioneered model housing for working people. This included well-built, ventilated lodgings designed to reduce disease spread and improve living conditions. We also discussed other philanthropic efforts like the Peabody Donation Fund and the impact of the Artizans’ and Labourers’ Dwellings Improvement Acts (1875-1885) on London's housing landscape, leading to the early stages of municipal housing provision.