A collection of 3 black and white negatives showing exterior views of the East India dock area, London used as a distribution centre by the Ministry of Works. The Temporary Housing Act of 1944/5 was intended to alleviate the acute housing shortages of the immediate postwar years, mostly through the construction of prefabricated, modular housing. The Ministry of Works was the government department tasked with the organisation and efficiency of the push for housing construction. A number of individual designs and constructions methods for housing were built during the 1940s. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, a number of distribution centres were established across the country. These centres stored the component parts for both the external and internal pieces of the housing and some of the designs (Swedish and US housing) had parts shipped to the UK to await distribution and construction. The East India Docks were amongst the first London docks to be closed during the late 1960s. As of 2019, the majority of the dock area has been filled in.
The original Ministry of Works storage envelope lists the operator as being “F" and the division as “D.D.T.H”.
2 of the 3 images were catalogued and digitised as part of a 2020 project.
This is part of the Sub Series: PSA01/04/H Housing; within the Series: PSA01/04 Negatives; within the Collection: PSA01 Property Services Agency
Source: Historic England Archive
Mid 20th Century Prefabricated House, Mid 20th Century Dock, Mid 20th Century Warehouse, Water Transport
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