PREFABS IN THE BOROUGH
A rare photograph of the prefabs in Gadesden Road, West Ewell.
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum.
As set out in our general background article, the WW2 “National Government” quickly turned to means of meeting the housing needs of those whose homes had been lost through bomb damage. A significant part of the answer was the prefabs programme that, after development work, was implemented from 1945.
The Government set a basic specification for these pre-fabricated homes. The floor area was to be 635 square feet (59 m²), to include two bedrooms and, most importantly (to keep plumbing to a minimum), incorporating a “heart-unit” of a back-to-back kitchen, bathroom, fire place with back boiler, airing cupboard and toilet. Moreover, to allow transportation from the factory, each component part could be no bigger than 7½ feet (2.3 m) wide. Private firms were then commissioned to design and produce their own versions within these guidelines. This resulted in 13 designs from 11 manufacturers.
The Government allocated the available prefabs to local councils in relation to local need. Epsom & Ewell Borough erected 204 prefabs, all in the West Ewell area, and mainly in Gatley Avenue and Gadesden Road.
Over the years, we have collected the following personal recollections of life in prefabs:
• Living In A Prefab In Gatley Ave – Vera Widdowfield
• Memories of 55 Gatley Avenue, West Ewell – Brian Piket
• My Early Days of Living in a Prefab – Clive Gilbert
• My Memories of Living in a Prefab – Mary Beadle
• Prefabs – Ruth Jemmett
• Prefabs – Memories from Canada – Alex Willox
• Prefabs – South Coast Memories – Veronica Tyler
• West Ewell’s Prefabs – Eric Taylor
And below are some photographs kindly provided by Patricia Howard (née Elson) of prefab life in and around 69 Gatley Avenue, West Ewell.
(Other related pages include: Epsom and Ewell in the Fifties & WW2: The Home Front in Epsom & Ewell)
Patricia Elson standing outside 69 Gatley Ave
Image courtesy of Patricia Howard © 2020
Mrs Elson in the kitchen of 69 Gatley Ave
Image courtesy of Patricia Howard © 2020
Mr Elson smoking outside 69 Gatley Ave
Image courtesy of Patricia Howard © 2020
Mr Elson outside 69 Gatley Ave
Image courtesy of Patricia Howard © 2020
Patricia’s Childhood friend with her dog outside 54 Gatley Ave
Image courtesy of Patricia Howard © 2020