book list
This book contains photographs and plans of about 75 small houses. I bought the book online because the description mentioned Welwyn Garden City, but only two of the houses featured in the book relate to that town. The other houses in the book are mostly in the home counties but a few from further afield. Each feature occupies 1 or 2 pages and comprises one or more photographs of the building, a short description of the construction, and one or more plans.
There is a 14-page introduction which is mostly about the role of an architect in the building of a house.
The first WGC house featured is a detached three-bedroom house which cost £1,350 including garage and all fittings. The architect is C. H. James , A.R.A. F.R.I.B.A. The description mentions the fact that use is made of the high-pitched roof space to accommodate a workroom and maid's bedroom. I do not know where in WGC this house is - it could be in the Reddings area. (Please e-mail me if you recognise it.)
The other one (below) is an example of a type of semi-detached house-pairs which were built in a scheme planned by Welwyn Garden City Ltd. The density is twelve houses to the acre. The cost per house was £326. The architect is Geoffrey L. Barnsley, F.R.I.B.A. The description mentions that the houses are wired for electric power and have a socket in the kitchen for a cooker and one in the living room for heaters or wireless. Water heating was in a copper which ejected directly into the bath.
click on the images for a better view