DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0138
110 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
from the -weather by the continuation of the main roof, which also screens the entrances
to the dwellings. The four tenements are arranged on precisely the same plan, two on
each floor. The entrance is through a small lobby, lighted from the upper part of the
door. The living room has a superficial area of about 150 feet, with a closet on one side
of the fire-place, to which warm air may be introduced from the back of the range;
over the fire-place is an iron rod for hanging pictures; and on the opposite side of the
room a shelf is carried above the doors, with a rail fixed between them. The scullery
is fitted up with a sink, beneath which is a coal-bin of slate; a plate-rack at one end,
drained by a slate slab into the sink, covers the entrance to the dust-shaft, which is
inclosed by a balanced self-acting iron door. The dust-shaft leads into a closed deposi-
tory under the stairs, and has a ventilating flue, carried up above the roof. The meat-
safe is ventilated through the hollow brickwork, and shelves are fixed over the doors. A
dresser-flap may be fixed against the partition. The sleeping apartments, being three
in number, provide for that separation which, with a family, is so essential to morality
and decency. Each has its distinct access, and a window into the open air; two have
fireplaces. The children's bed-rooms contain 50 feet superficial each, and, opening out
of the living room, an opportunity is afforded for the exercise of parental watchfulness,
without the unwholesome crowding of the living room, by its use as a sleeping apartment.
The parents' bed-room, with a superficial area of about 100 feet, is entered through the
scullery—an arrangement in many respects preferable to a direct approach from the
living room, particularly in cases of sickness. The recess in this room provides a closet
for linen; and a shelf is carried over the door, with a rail fixed beneath it—a provision
which is made in each of the other bed-rooms. The water-closet is fitted up with a
Staffordshire glazed basin, which is complete without any wood fittings, and supplied
with water from a slate cistern, in common, of 160 gallons, placed on the roof over the
party and staircase walls. The same pipes which carry away the rainwater from the roof
serve for the use of the closets."
With reference to the cost of construction, the following statement is made:—" In most
parts of England the cost of four houses, built on the plan of this model structure, with
ordinary materials, and finished similar to the ground floor apartments, may be stated at
£440 to £480, or from £110 to £120 for each tenement, contingent on the facilities for
obtaining materials and the value of labour. Such dwellings, let at 3s. 6d. to 45. a-week,
would, after deducting ground-rent and taxes, afford a return of seven per cent, on the
amount of outlay. Where hollow bricks are obtainable at a fair price, their use ought
to effect a reduction of about 25 per cent, on the cost of the brickwork; or equal on these
four houses to about £40." It is difficult to over-estimate the magnitude and impor-
tance of the effects of such a change as would be induced upon the population of the
country, by the introduction of such dwellings as these for the poorer classes of the com-
munity ; whether as adding to their individual happiness, or improving their physical and
moral condition, and thus rendering them more valuable and useful members of society.
The jury unanimously recommended to the council that they should award the medal
reserved to their gift to His Royal Highness Prince Albert, as the exhibitor of this most
useful and interesting contribution to the exhibition, and to whom the nation at large
is so deeply indebted for the promotion of this important subject. The claims of the
prince to the original idea of collecting under one roof examples of the varied industry
and talent of the whole world are so fully admitted that we need not advance them anew
to our readers. In addition, however, to what we have already laid before them, numer-
ous examples might be adduced of the interest taken by his Royal Highness with respect
to the success of the Exhibition, which display with what unwearied zeal he constantly
endeavoured to promote its advancement. A variety of objects of art, as well as of
from the -weather by the continuation of the main roof, which also screens the entrances
to the dwellings. The four tenements are arranged on precisely the same plan, two on
each floor. The entrance is through a small lobby, lighted from the upper part of the
door. The living room has a superficial area of about 150 feet, with a closet on one side
of the fire-place, to which warm air may be introduced from the back of the range;
over the fire-place is an iron rod for hanging pictures; and on the opposite side of the
room a shelf is carried above the doors, with a rail fixed between them. The scullery
is fitted up with a sink, beneath which is a coal-bin of slate; a plate-rack at one end,
drained by a slate slab into the sink, covers the entrance to the dust-shaft, which is
inclosed by a balanced self-acting iron door. The dust-shaft leads into a closed deposi-
tory under the stairs, and has a ventilating flue, carried up above the roof. The meat-
safe is ventilated through the hollow brickwork, and shelves are fixed over the doors. A
dresser-flap may be fixed against the partition. The sleeping apartments, being three
in number, provide for that separation which, with a family, is so essential to morality
and decency. Each has its distinct access, and a window into the open air; two have
fireplaces. The children's bed-rooms contain 50 feet superficial each, and, opening out
of the living room, an opportunity is afforded for the exercise of parental watchfulness,
without the unwholesome crowding of the living room, by its use as a sleeping apartment.
The parents' bed-room, with a superficial area of about 100 feet, is entered through the
scullery—an arrangement in many respects preferable to a direct approach from the
living room, particularly in cases of sickness. The recess in this room provides a closet
for linen; and a shelf is carried over the door, with a rail fixed beneath it—a provision
which is made in each of the other bed-rooms. The water-closet is fitted up with a
Staffordshire glazed basin, which is complete without any wood fittings, and supplied
with water from a slate cistern, in common, of 160 gallons, placed on the roof over the
party and staircase walls. The same pipes which carry away the rainwater from the roof
serve for the use of the closets."
With reference to the cost of construction, the following statement is made:—" In most
parts of England the cost of four houses, built on the plan of this model structure, with
ordinary materials, and finished similar to the ground floor apartments, may be stated at
£440 to £480, or from £110 to £120 for each tenement, contingent on the facilities for
obtaining materials and the value of labour. Such dwellings, let at 3s. 6d. to 45. a-week,
would, after deducting ground-rent and taxes, afford a return of seven per cent, on the
amount of outlay. Where hollow bricks are obtainable at a fair price, their use ought
to effect a reduction of about 25 per cent, on the cost of the brickwork; or equal on these
four houses to about £40." It is difficult to over-estimate the magnitude and impor-
tance of the effects of such a change as would be induced upon the population of the
country, by the introduction of such dwellings as these for the poorer classes of the com-
munity ; whether as adding to their individual happiness, or improving their physical and
moral condition, and thus rendering them more valuable and useful members of society.
The jury unanimously recommended to the council that they should award the medal
reserved to their gift to His Royal Highness Prince Albert, as the exhibitor of this most
useful and interesting contribution to the exhibition, and to whom the nation at large
is so deeply indebted for the promotion of this important subject. The claims of the
prince to the original idea of collecting under one roof examples of the varied industry
and talent of the whole world are so fully admitted that we need not advance them anew
to our readers. In addition, however, to what we have already laid before them, numer-
ous examples might be adduced of the interest taken by his Royal Highness with respect
to the success of the Exhibition, which display with what unwearied zeal he constantly
endeavoured to promote its advancement. A variety of objects of art, as well as of