List of existing model dwellings


Model Dwellings were buildings or estates constructed, mostly during the Victorian era, along philanthropic lines to provide decent living accommodation for the working class. They were typically erected by private model dwellings companies and usually with the aim of making a return on investment hence the description of the movement as "five per cent philanthropy." As such they were forerunners of modern-day municipal housing.
This is a list of still-standing model dwellings, organised by builder. Most of these companies are now defunct; a few, such as the Peabody Trust are still operating and building new accommodation, and others have been subsumed by larger firms. This list covers urban development on the principal of "five per cent philanthropy"; for communities built to house workers for a particular trade or employer, see model village or company town.

Artizans, Labourers & General Dwellings Company

The Artizans' Company was established in 1867 by William Austin, becoming one of the largest of the model dwellings companies in the late Victorian era. It was best known for its large, low-rise, suburban estates in London. It was later subsumed into Sun Life Financial.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Noel ParkWood Green, London1882–1929
Pinnerwood ParkPinner, London1932–1935
Queen's ParkKilburn, London1874–1881
Shaftesbury ParkBattersea, London1872–1877
Leigham CourtStreatham, London1889–1928

Chester Cottage Improvement Company

The Chester Cottage Improvement Company was founded in 1892, and was a particular concern of the Duke of Westminster.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Priory PlaceChester, Cheshire1898

East End Dwellings Company

The EEDC was founded by Samuel Barnett and others in 1882 in order to provide particularly for the area that is now the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Museum HouseBurnham Road, Bethnal Green, London1888
Dunstan HousesStepney Green, London1899
Thornhill HousesThornhill Road, Barnsbury, London1902
Whidborne BuildingsKings Cross, London1890s

Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company

The Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company was founded by a group of stonemasons in Edinburgh in 1861. By 1872 they had built nearly 1,000 houses in six parts of Edinburgh and Leith, commonly known as colony houses.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Abbeyhill ColoniesLondon Road, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh
Dalry ColoniesDalry, Edinburgh1868–1870
Shaftesbury ParkShandon, Edinburgh1883–1904
Stockbridge ColoniesGlenogle Road, Stockbridge, Edinburgh1861–1867

Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company

Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Stepney Green CourtStepney Green, London1896
Navarino MansionsDalston Lane, Hackney1903-5
Mocatta HouseBrady Street, Whitechapel, London1905
Evelina MansionsCamberwell, London1900
Rebecca HouseMile End, London1933

Improved Industrial Dwellings Company

The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company was founded by the stationer Sir Sydney Waterlow in 1863.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Asmun's Hill cottagesHampstead Garden Suburb, London1909
Clarendon BuildingsBalderton Street, Westminster, London1872
Cobden BuildingsKing's Cross Road, London1865
Cromwell BuildingRedcross Way, Camberwell, London1864
Derby BuildingsWicklow Street, Camden Town, Londonc.1865
Grosvenor Estate Brownhart Gardens, Mayfair, London1886–1982
Leopold BuildingsBakers Rents, Poplar, London1872
Stanley BuildingsMidland Road, Camden Town, London1865
Tower BuildingsBrewhouse Lane, Wapping, London1864
Waterlow CourtHampstead Garden Suburb, London1907–1909

Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes

The MAIDIC was the first company to be formed for the specific purpose of providing model homes, in 1844. It built mainly within London.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Albert CottagesStepney, London1858
Alexandra CottagesPenge, London1866–1868
Gibson GardensStoke Newington, London1880
Howard HouseDeal Street, Stepney, London1864
Victoria CottagesWoodseer Street, Stepney, London1864

Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company

The Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company was founded by James Hall in 1859.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Garth Heads Industrial Workers' DwellingsByker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne1869–1878

Peabody Trust

The Peabody Trust was set up following a huge gift for the poor of London from the banker George Peabody in 1862. It became one of the largest providers of model housing for the working classes.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Abbey Orchard Street EstateVictoria, London1880s
Bethnal Green Peabody EstateCambridge Crescent, Bethnal Green, London1910
Coleshill FlatsMozart Terrace, Westminster, London1871
Horseferry Peabody EstateVictoria, London1922
Islington Peabody EstateGreenman Street, Islington, London1864–6
Langley MansionsLangley Lane, Vauxhall, London1900
Lawrence Street Peabody EstateLawrence Street, Chelsea, London1870
Old Pye Street Peabody EstateVictoria, London1880s
Peabody SquareBlackfriars Road, Bermondsey, London1871
Pimlico Peabody EstatePeabody Avenue, Pimlico, London1876
Poplar Peabody EstateElf Row, Poplar, London1866
Shadwell Peabody EstateGlamis Street, Stepney, London1866
Spitalfields Peabody DwellingsCommercial Street, Spitalfields, London1863–4
Tottenham Peabody EstateLordship Lane, Tottenham, London1907
Whitechapel Peabody EstateJohn Fisher Street, Whitechapel, London1880s
Whitecross Street Peabody EstateFinsbury, London1883
Wild Street Peabody EstateDrury Lane, Covent Garden, London

Pilrig Model Dwellings Company

This company was founded in Edinburgh in 1849 and built the earliest model dwellings in Edinburgh. The work of the PMDC was an inspiration on Henry Roberts, who went on to become one of the most prolific architects of model housing.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Shaw ColoniesShaw's Place, Edinburgh, Scotland1849–1862

Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes

The SICLC was one of the earliest model dwellings companies. It grew out of the Labourer's Friend Society into a housing provider in 1844 and built a number of properties in London, most of which no longer exist.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of construction
Dimsdale Street 11 Cowbridge, Hertford, Hertfordshire1852
Parnell HouseStreatham Street, Camden Town1849
Turner CourtSt Luke's Street, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire1862

Others

A number of other schemes were built by private individuals or other concerns.
Name of dwellingLocationDate of constructionNotes
Friary CloseMarmion Road, Portsmouth1851Gothic style. Architect Thomas Ellis Owen. Comprises 24 individual dwellings and one shop on the Friary Close frontage.
New CourtStreatley Place, Hampstead, London1854Block of 30 flats, built for Hugh Jackson, solicitor.
Rosebank CottagesEdinburgh, Scotland1854–1860Built by Sir James Gowans for "the better class of mechanics and others." Modelled on the Pilrig cottages.