Prefabricated Collection

Building of a prefabricated houses in 3 hours 1945
During the Second World War many houses were destroyed, due to this, prefabricated houses (prefabs) were built, quickly and cheaply providing quality housing with all the amenities, central heating

PAXTON, Joseph (1801-1865). Crystal Palace. 1851. First building with revolutionary modular, prefabricated design, and use of glass. Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, London

Bailey Bridge and Rhine victory by G. H. Davis
The Bailey Bridge: the British weapon which hurdled Allied armies across the Rhine barrier during the Second World War. Some constructional details of a great engineering invention

Prefabricated Council Flats
11th November 1959: Tennants live in prefabricated flats built for temporary accomodation during the war, until construction work on the Brandon Estate, Southwark, is finished

Kitchen interior JLP01_08_007482
Hareclive Road, Hartcliffe, City of Bristol. Two women admiring a fridge in the kitchen of the 3000th Easiform dwelling to be completed in Bristol, on the day of the ceremonial opening

Hangar roof framework JLP01_08_085366
HEATHROW AIRPORT, B E A SERVICING HANGAR, HEATHROW, HILLINGDON, GREATER LONDON. Looking over the steel roof of the BEA aircraft servicing hangar at Heathrow Airport during its construction

Lattice framework JLP01_08_083781
HEATHROW AIRPORT, B E A SERVICING HANGAR, HEATHROW, HILLINGDON, GREATER LONDON. The metal lattice framework core of the roof structure of the BEA aircraft servicing hangar at Heathrow Airport

Shuttering JLP01_08_000716
PATCHWAY, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE. A man fixing the shuttering for the construction of Easiform housing in Bristol, possibly at the Patchway Estate

Moving in JLP01_08_062630
Leyfields, Tamworth, Staffordshire. The Mayor, Councillor E. Collins, welcomes a family of six into their new home which is the first four-bedroom house to be handed over to tenants on the Leyfields

Moving in JLP01_08_043922
Hartcliffe Estate, BRISTOL. A couple with two young children entering their newly built house on the Hartcliffe Estate; the 5000th Easiform house to be completed in Bristol

Assembling Easiform housing jlp01_08_001312
HOLLINGTON, HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX. A man placing the framework for a doorway in the shuttering of an Easiform house during the construction of a housing estate in Hastings

Assembling Easiform housing jlp01_08_001308
HOLLINGTON, HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX. A man fixing the framework for a doorway into the shuttering of an Easiform house during the construction of a housing estate in Hastings

Factory units DP235399
Advance Factory Units, Burners Lane, Kiln Farm, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Exterior view of part of a factory unit from the south-west

Blackbird Leys JLP01_08_069168
Sundew Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, Oxfordshire. A group of children playing on the grass infront of a row of terraced Easiform houses

Comic postcard, Father not present at baptism Date: 20th century

Prefabricated unit delivered to a garden by crane
Prefabricated unit, complete with curtains at the windows, delivered to a garden by crane. Date: circa 1960s

A portable town for Australia, showing the Church and Parsonage House as ordered to be sent out... (colour litho)
2795530 A portable town for Australia, showing the Church and Parsonage House as ordered to be sent out... (colour litho) by English School

These photographs give some indication of what a gigantic task the construction of the two prefabricated ports, their towing across the Channel, and installation off the coast of Normandy entailed

Two pre-fabricated Ports, each as big a a Gibraltar were manufactured in Britain in segments, towed across the Channel and set down off the coast of Normandy

Two pre-fabricated Ports, each as big a a Gibraltar were manufactured in Britain in segments, towed across the Channel and set down off the coast of Normandy

Crystal Glen, The Heath, Cardiff, Wales. 14th August 1961

Prefabricated Ports. Two Prefabricated Ports each as big as Gibraltar were manufactured in Britain, in sections, towed across the channel, and set down off the coast of Normandy

Dockland Houses, Isle of Dogs. Families set up home in pre-fabricated houses, Circa 1946

Children playing, outside Dockland Houses, Isle of Dogs. Families set up home in Nissen huts, pre-fabricated houses, Circa 1946

Iron church, for Jamaica, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Iron church, for Jamaica, 1844. This Church has been sent out to Jamaica, as a specimen, as many of the kind are likely to be required

Nonsuch House was a four-storey house on London Bridge, completed in 1579. It is the earliest documented prefabricated building

Nonsuch House, (c1872). Creator: Unknown
Nonsuch House, (c1872). Nonsuch House on old London Bridge was originally constructed in the Netherlands, taken apart and shipped to London in pieces in 1578

View of the Crystal Palace and its surrounding park, Sydenham, Bromley, London, 1854. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851

View of the closing ceremony of the Great Exhibition of 1851, London, 1851. Conceived by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the Works of the Industry of all Nations

Cover of Chords of harmony and peace composed by JB Chatterton, c1851. With a view of the Crystal Palace, the building designed by Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, London

View of the building in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition, 1851, 1851. View of the Crystal Palace, the prefabricated cast iron and glass building designed by Joseph Paxton to house the exhibition

The Great Exhibition, Hyde Park, Westminster, London, 1851. View of the Crystal Palace from the north bank of the Serpentine

The opening by Queen Victoria of the Industrial Palace in Hyde Park, May 1st 1851 Artist
The opening by Queen Victoria of the Industrial Palace in Hyde Park, May 1st 1851. Conceived by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the Works of the Industry of all Nations

Tropical plants in the Egyptian Room, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1854. Artist
Tropical plants in the Egyptian Room, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1854. Designed by Joseph Paxton, the Crystal Palace was a prefabricated cast iron

Nonsuch House, London, c1845 (1904). The Nonsuch House on London Bridge, completed in 1579, is the earliest documented prefabricated building

Crystal Palace, London, 20th Century. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, the Crystal Palace was originally built in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851

Great Exhibition of 1851, (c1850s). A glass palace was built in Hyde Park to exhibit many things from different nations worldwide in 1851

Opening of the Great Exhibition by Queen Victoria, Hyde Park, London, 1 May 1851, (1899). Conceived by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the Works of the Industry of all

Queen Victoria opening the Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace, London, 1 May 1851. Conceived by Prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the Works of the Industry of all Nations

Queen Victoria arriving to open the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, London, 1851. Artist: Le Blond
Queen Victoria arriving to open the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, London, 1851. The Crystal Palace was built to house the Great Exhibition of the Works of the Industry of all Nations

Prefabricated aluminium homes 1945
During the Second World War many houses were destroyed, due to this, aluminium prefabricated houses (prefabs) were built, by Britains aircraft industry

Advert for the development of Hiduminium houses 1945
Applications for Hiduminum pre-fabricated homes. When the nation wants houses industry gives us it confidence. Each home was made from aluminium alloys

Temporary homes 1945
During World War Two many houses were bombed, there were a shortage of homes for people after the war so temporary homes where quickly built

Prefabs at Eltham, London. 1933

Mars base, artwork C018 / 8567
Mars base. Artwork of a base (left) on Mars. A manned base on Mars could be constructed from prefabricated sections brought from Earth or from materials manufactured using resources found on Mars

Mars base, artwork C018 / 0284
Mars base. Artwork of a base on Mars, with plants in one dome providing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, and people in a second dome

American Liberty Ship - Advance Transport
An American Liberty Ship (a prefabricated US-built freighter (emergency cargo ships) of the Second World War) - providing advance transport. Date: 1945

Portable wood motor house or garage, 1919 advertisement
Advertisement for garages constructed of strong deal framing, mortised and tenoned and with a roof of galvanised iron, manufactured by Boulton & Paul of Norwich. Date: 1919

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

In the aftermath of World War II, the concept buildings gained significant traction. One remarkable example was the construction houses in just three hours in 1945. This groundbreaking achievement showcased the efficiency and speed at which these homes could be assembled, providing much-needed shelter for war-torn communities. Another notable application of prefabrication was seen in the Bailey Bridge, a vital component that contributed to the Rhine victory by G. H. Davis. These bridges were constructed using pre-made parts, allowing for rapid assembly and enabling troops to swiftly cross rivers during military operations. The innovation didn't stop there; Britain manufactured two colossal pre-fabricated ports, each as big as Gibraltar itself. These impressive structures demonstrated how large-scale projects could be efficiently executed through prefabrication techniques. Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace is an iconic symbol of architectural ingenuity and one of history's most famous prefab construction. Erected in 1851 for The Great Exhibition, this magnificent structure showcased how modular components could create grand designs with ease. Prefabrication also played a crucial role in addressing post-war housing shortages with council flats being built using this method. These affordable living spaces provided comfortable accommodations for many families who had lost their homes during wartime destruction. The year 1945 witnessed another milestone when aluminium homes were introduced as part of post-war reconstruction efforts. These lightweight yet sturdy dwellings offered a modern solution to housing needs while showcasing advancements in material technology. Even interior design embraced prefab elements - kitchen interiors became more efficient and stylish thanks to innovative pre-made components like JLP01_08_007482 captured on camera. Adverts from that era highlighted Hiduminium houses' development - promoting durable and cost-effective solutions for homeowners seeking stability amidst rebuilding efforts after the war's devastation. Temporary homes emerged as a practical response to immediate housing demands following WWII's end. Prefab structures quickly provided safe havens for displaced individuals, offering a sense of stability during uncertain times.