Devised as temporary housing after World War II, prefabricated homes fitted with all 'mod cons' represented the new way of living in post-war Britain. The fact that war-damaged aircraft were melted down to produce them and that POWs assisted construction, only helped to make the prefab a symbol of Britain rising from the ashes of war. And for the first time many found themselves living in well-designed accommodation with fitted kitchens, hot running water, new electric appliances, and an inside bathroom. Prefabs turned out to be more durable and popular than anyone could have foreseen, and these tiny palaces for the people became icons of post-war regeneration. Palaces for the People highlights the history of the homes built under the Temporary Housing Programme 1944-49, as well as two-storey prefabs such as the British Iron and Steel Corporation houses and Airey homes, and modular homes erected by London County Council. It illustrates construction methods, interiors, furnishings and gardens with a rich collection of photographs from original prefab residents, published here for the first time. It will be of interest to admirers of these temporary homes, and to all who wish to know more about the social history of British housing.
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From the Author
240 pages, over 150 photos, and details of all the British prefabs. Photos of exteriors, interiors, fixtures and fittings, gardens, aerial photographs, estate plans, construction photos... it is all here. It has been a joy to research this book, and I have been delighted with the response from readers. I hope that you enjoy the book.
About the Author
Dr Greg Stevenson works as an architectural heritage consultant and lectures at the University Of Wales, Lampeter. The author of the popular titles The 1930s Home and Art Deco Ceramics, his next project will be to save an Arcon prefab and rebuild it on his land as an unusual holiday let.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Mr M McLean
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book after reading a review in The Times, and was so pleased I did. Although it was a softback (not hardback as advertised), I was delighted my purchase. The photos are great, and rather than being a technical history, the book features the lives of prefab residents. There are illustations on every double page, and it is a great format, the designer has done really well. I have seen a couple of other prefab books, and these tend to be either based on American prefab systems, or the Brenda Vale book is a technical history that is interesting, but poorly illustrated. I found the chapter on Prefab Interiors particularly interesting, and the original residents photos were charming. In fact it is the recolections and images of residents with their beloved prefabs that makes this book the gem that it is. Now that we are losing the last of Britain's prefabs I hope a copy of this book is deposited in every town library, so everyone can read about these great houses. The only thing I would change about the book would be to include more information about contemporary perfab design, but you can't have everything!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By arty crafty
Format:Hardcover
I found this book purely my chance because I was searching the internet for general info on prefabs. I lived in a prefab in Southend-on-Sea, Essex for the first ten years of my life and we all loved living there - unfortunately we have only a few photographs and so it was a real jolt to see these pictures and remember little things I had long forgotten. It was like seeing someone else in my childhood memories, really weird but I loved looking at the photos and reading about the prefabs. I really enjoyed reading this book and thoroughly recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about this unique way of living.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book has lots of great photos; timeless pieces of people's lives. It's like having a sneaky peek over the garden fence back into the 1940s. I've flicked through it time and time again.
It's also a really interesting read, not just about prefab houses around Britain, but also about the whole era, and so anybody interested in modern history will find this a fascinating insight into how the normal people of Britain got on with their lives in post-war times.
I guess some people will find it a trip down memory lane as there are also photos of house interiors from this time. The prefabs of the book's title are all around the country, from Essex to the north to Wales.
I'm sure you'll enjoy this book, whether for the informative text or the fascinating and plentiful photos.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Now that prefabs are making a comeback, have a look at how it was done during and just after WW2. Well written, letting people who have lived in them tell their own story and share their photos. Good clear colour photos of prefabs still standing. The only negative is that the book should have been in a larger format.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By a.j.perryman
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having lived the first 17 years of my life in one, this is a real nostalgia trip! I lived in Porters Field Estate in Leyton East London on quite a large prefab estate and it was simply the best comunity that you could wish for. A safe haven for kids to be left out to play in all day. Hated it when we were all moved out and dispersed into tower blocks or low rise flats....Happy days! Tony Perryman
By A Reader
Format:Hardcover
I am one of the people who are mentioned in this book having lived in a prefab for many years. Some of the pictures are mine and the book serves as a reminder to how life was 50 years ago. For anyone who lived in a prefab and remembers what living in them was like this book is a treasure trove. I spent years looking for a book about the prefabs so when I had a chance to give a little to this book I jumped at the chance. It's not just a glimpse into how we used to live its also about the actual people who lived their lives in these wonderful little houses.
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