A & S Wheater, builders : advert in The Book of Little Houses & How to Build Them ; The Rolls House Publishing Co Ltd., London, 1922
An interesting book produced in 1922 at a time when the post-WW1 slogan "Homes for Heroes" was still valid and many schemes for the more economic construction of houses, either by size, scale or construction methodolgy were being proposed. This was also the time when many municipal authorities were first seriously involved in the provision of social or council housing. This book, with a foreword by Sir Charles Ruthen, Director-General of Housing in the Ministry of Health, has a series of articles both on types and plans of 'modern cottages' but also looks at various contemporary construction methodology including 'modern methods of building' that involved either a decree of prefabrication or the use of 'labour' and cost saving materials such as concrete blocks. and the production of concrete. Many of these methods, similar to those considered in similar post-WW2 years, where not widely adopted and properties using such novel methods often displayed defects. In many ways the 'traditional' construction methods of brick and wet trades won out.
The book also has many pages of adverts for builders and suppliers, many of which allude to the construction methods discussed in the articles. This advert is for the London and Birmingham based builders A & S Wheater who had completed schemes for various municipalities including Brighton (illustrated), Smethwick and Reading.
A & S Wheater, builders : advert in The Book of Little Houses & How to Build Them ; The Rolls House Publishing Co Ltd., London, 1922
An interesting book produced in 1922 at a time when the post-WW1 slogan "Homes for Heroes" was still valid and many schemes for the more economic construction of houses, either by size, scale or construction methodolgy were being proposed. This was also the time when many municipal authorities were first seriously involved in the provision of social or council housing. This book, with a foreword by Sir Charles Ruthen, Director-General of Housing in the Ministry of Health, has a series of articles both on types and plans of 'modern cottages' but also looks at various contemporary construction methodology including 'modern methods of building' that involved either a decree of prefabrication or the use of 'labour' and cost saving materials such as concrete blocks. and the production of concrete. Many of these methods, similar to those considered in similar post-WW2 years, where not widely adopted and properties using such novel methods often displayed defects. In many ways the 'traditional' construction methods of brick and wet trades won out.
The book also has many pages of adverts for builders and suppliers, many of which allude to the construction methods discussed in the articles. This advert is for the London and Birmingham based builders A & S Wheater who had completed schemes for various municipalities including Brighton (illustrated), Smethwick and Reading.