From the SVA and R W Sampson to Neville Chamberlain.
“Present-day residents comment about the quality and workmanship of their houses.”
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There has been over 100 years of social housing in Sidmouth:
It was on 24th May 1927 when the Minister for Housing, one Neville Chamberlain, who formally opened a new estate of 70 houses at Arcot, “a beautiful park on the north side of the town”, as announced by the Devon and Exeter Gazette. (copyright Gazette, and British Library)
For an excellent, more detailed look at the history of Sidmouth’s social housing, here’s this month’s regular piece in the One Magazine from Sidmouth’s Nigel Hayman of the Sidmouth Museum – published here with permission:
Sidmouth’s first council houses
They were built in difficult times but exceeded all expectations
In East Devon the first council houses were in Newton Poppleford in 1913 which, coincidentally, was the same year Sidmouth considered an ambitious scheme for 51 houses in Woolbrook on land belonging to the Manor. It never progressed but in 1914 the council purchased Higher Salter’s Meadow, off Temple Street, with the plan for building houses to rent and specifically affordable for ‘working men’ in the town. The local architect, Sampson, was employed as architect in what became Sid Park Road running at right angles from Temple Street to the River Sid. Included was a spur off the road parallel to the Byes and facing the river. Additionally, there were six adjacent houses on Temple Street. In all there were a total of 48 properties, either semi-detached or short terraces.
The Sid Vale Association had actively supported the proposal and one of its most active members, Annie Leigh Browne who owned nearby Woolcombe House, gifted £600 to the costs. Sampson himself only charged fees for the six houses with Temple Street frontage. The building contractors were AJ Carter of Exmouth. Work started in 1914 but the labour numbers were reduced by the outbreak of war. Nevertheless, the project, including the landscaping, was completed by the end of 1916. The rent was 5s 3d (26p) a week apart from those properties on Temple Street which were larger and their rent was 6s 6d (33p). These charges were low and generous.
Furthermore, these being Sampson design, the build quality was very high. They had steeply sloping roofs and deep overhangs with exposed rafters (a Sampson feature). The open porches had canopies. An interesting feature was the simple but sturdy boot scraper adjacent to the front entrance. All had three bedrooms and a sitting room but the larger ones on Temple Street had an additional downstairs room, the ‘parlour’ reserved for smarter occasions.
All the properties included a scullery with hot and cold water for washing up dishes and laundering clothes. It was also fitted with a copper bath, an ideal material for keeping the water hot. The bath was provided with a top so that, when not in use, it was an extra table.
Various alterations have been made over the last a hundred years but present-day residents comment about the quality and workmanship of their houses. Many have retained their boot scrapers although some are surprised when told of their original intention. Other imaginative uses have been found.
In 1927 the council completed a further 70 council houses at Arcot Park. Again, Sampson designed them. Neville Chamberlain, as minister of health which included housing, visited soon after the estate opened. He was highly enthusiastic and, remarkably, his visit can be seen on YouTube. (Neville Chamberlain in Sidmouth).
The Sid Park Road initiative was a success due to an enlightened council combined with the generosity of Annie Leigh Browne and Sampson’s skilled and thoughtful design.
Nigel Hyman, Sidmouth Museum, opening hours: Monday-Friday 10.00-16.00 Saturday 10.00-13.00, closed Sundays
Photo: Sid Park Road early 1920s
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