IMPROVED INDUSTRIAL DWELLINGS COMPANY LIMITED

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 LMA/4013
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: IMPROVED INDUSTRIAL DWELLINGS COMPANY LIMITED
Date(s)	: 1863-1984
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 0.92 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Improved Industrial Dwellings Co Ltd | housing developer Greencoat Properties Ltd | housing developer Soho, Clerkenwell and General Industrial Dwellings Co Ltd | housing developer

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

This commercial company developed high density housing blocks for artisans in Central London. It was founded by Sydney Waterlow in 1863 at the time of many philanthropic housing developments. Registered Office in 1925: 5 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1.

The company started with an initial capital of £50,000 and its shareholders included MP's, lawyers, builders and merchants. It built in blocks of 5-7 storeys providing self contained housing for artisans. By 1871 over 1,000 dwellings were occupied and the company profits grew above 5 per cent dividend paid. It worked from standard plans (prepared by a surveyor rather than an architect) and built many estates including Wapping, Cromwell buildings Southwark, Kings Cross Road, Old Street, Pancras Road, Greenwich, High Street Islington and Bethnal Green.

This collection also contains records of two subsidiary companies, Greencoat Properties Ltd and the Soho, Clerkenwell and General Industrial Dwellings Company Limited.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of Improved Industrial Dwellings Company Limited, housing developer, 1863-1984. The records relate to company administration and to a much lesser extent, the tenants. The earliest registers in the collection, a register of Estates 1863-1896 is of particular interest as it includes estate accounts, block plans, mortality rates and coloured plans of dwelling type (c.1870). The records relating to Greencoat Properties Ltd and The Soho, Clerkenwell and General Industrial Dwellings Company Ltd include Directors Annual Reports and Accounts 1885-1976. The only register to name tenants is the Deposit Account Register, 1935-1970.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

In sections: Improved Industrial Dwellings LMA/4013/01; Company Ltd Greencoat Properties Ltd Soho LMA/4013/02; Clerkenwell And General Industrial Dwellings Company Ltd LMA/4013/03.

Conditions governing access:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in April 1997.

Allied Materials

Related material:

HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB - ACC 3816.

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
July to October 2009