"Tin Town"

Prefabricated house:

A type of prefabricated house erected, to 11 approved designs, as part of the Temporary Housing Programme, between 1944 and 1948. This scheme was devised to relieve the post-war housing shortage at a time when conventional materials were unavailable.

During the Second World War large amounts of housing were being destroyed in cities, such as Liverpool, leaving lots of homeless people in despair. The government devised a plan for houses that could be "started in the morning and be finished by tea time". These houses were called prefabricated homes, built mainly out of metal sheeting and wood, giving them the name "Tin Town". These homes were only meant to be temporary houses but because they were built so well they are still occupied today. People regarded them as a "palace for the people" by people who had come from the inner city homes with only back yards and no gardens. People loved these homes so much that they are still living in them now.
There are lots of other pre-fabricated houses dotted round the country as well. A pre-fabricated house is a posh name for tin town. Most people call them "Tin Town" mainly because they were built out of tin. Some people still live in them now because they are so convenient. They are small compared to today's houses but that's why people like them. They are practically maintenance free. They do have a small front garden though, which is more of a pleasure than a pain. Many residents have lived there since they were first built but people move in as soon as one goes on sale, proving they are still popular. These aren't just old bits of tin and odd bits of wood. They are a piece of history, which are still here today.
Rachael Kewin (9S) & Laura John (9SR)

Construction

In Ellesmere Port a site was selected on what in 1945 was on the edge of town. Overpool & Rivacre was the chosen area. There were many people in the city, especially Liverpool, whose houses were bombed so the Government with Local Councils had to put up houses quickly and cheaply. They made 'Tin houses'. They were all bungalows because if they put on a second floor, the tin below them would bend and fall down. The area is now nicknamed 'Tin Town'. Many houses were destroyed in the war so it would have been advisable to get one of these bungalows. They didn't have the time or money to make regular houses, and they made them quick to move into. Tin is a strong material and they were easy to put up. They would be put up in 6 stages - four walls, a floor, and a roof. This is why they were so highly rated and very convenient.

Tom Conde (9Y) & Jonathan Allin (9W)

When was Tin Town built?

In 1945 tin bungalow type houses were built. The idea came because of the war. The council built these pre-fabricated homes because after the war the people who had lived in bombed and destroyed houses had nowhere to live.
The temporary houses were very, very useful. The houses were all joined together, with concrete slabs and plastic, and tin.
The roofs were made from reinforced tin sheeting. The pipes were all joined together providing running water and sewers. All the houses were then provided with electricity.
The tin houses were very successful. Some have been knocked down, but many are standing still today.
Ben Long (9S) & John Harrop (9SR)

Location

Above: The Rivacre/Overpool area in the mid 19thc.
Click to enlarge.
Right: Modern map of Rivacre/Overpool
Below: Modern A-Z showing the area ringed

[picture research by Rachael Kewin (9S) & Laura John (9SR)]

Tarrans - Housing Report to the Council 1996

A report was made to the local council in 1996 about Tin Town. It said that these buildings are called TARRAN BUNGALOWS or "Prefabs" which were only intended to provide housing for 15 years. They are now over 50 years old.
The structural engineer recommended that they were way beyond their intended 'life' and should be replaced.
The Council recommended that a housing association should be set up to redevelop the land possibly with a private developer to build mixed types of housing, so the residents could be relocated there.
However they also realised that many residents have lived there a long time, some since the they were first built and would be very upset at thought of any change.
It is amazing that the prefabs are still in good use so many years after they were built, considering they were to be temporary!
Jonathan Allin (9W)

Our interview with Mrs Bradley highlights the points made above:
Interview with Mrs Bradley - a resident of ' Tin Town'

Mrs Bradley used to live on the Rossmore estate, then during World War II she heard about the pre-fabricated houses. When they were built and she decided to move there.
She has been living there ever since the end of the war and she has always lived in Ellesmere Port. She says they are the right size for her and she is happy where she is and it brings back memories of the war. She says they were built on what was once farmland and fields. She added that it is also very quiet out there and very peaceful for the elderly.
My Auntie Betty used to live there as well. Previously, she lived in Little Sutton and then she moved in to Tin town. She found the facilities quite good and it was a pleasant area being close to Rivacre Woods. The rooms in the prefabs are quite big and warm. In fact, once her husband sadly died, she felt the house was too big for her on her own. She had moved into her house just after World War II. She stayed there for a couple of years before moving to the Rivacre area.
Interview by Phillip Lowe (9SR) (Mrs Bradley is my Auntie Betty's friend)

Wolverham

Overpool was not the only area to have prefabs. Wolverham also had an estate. However, by the 1990s, many had been closed down and a building company had bought the land from the council and moved residents out. The empty houses were boarded up and gradually vandalised. Eventually, the demolition took place a couple of years ago. Other houses in the street were evacuated while this went on to ensure no one was hurt. The site has now been transformed into a modern housing estate.
By Jamie Ross (9w)

Early History and the Situation Today
The people of Tin Town lived there since the war. These houses were built because there wasn't enough housing in their old towns because German planes were bombing them. These houses were made out of tin, they were quite quick to put up, it took about 2 days.

The walls of the tin house were built in factories, before they started work on the construction site. They got a crane to load them to where they wanted them to go and them placed them where they needed to be.
Many houses were built of tin with corrugated walls. The roof was also built of tin and they were very easy to build. The space in these houses was quite big, there was enough to live in, and they had at least two bedrooms and a big kitchen.
The housing estate had only taken a few weeks to construct and they were near the Rivacare Park. It was easy for people to have days out there and they took their dogs for walks.
We visited the area and took photographs of what they look like now (see below), some of them have been modernised with breezeblock or brickwork. Others have been knocked down, but most are still there. These houses are pretty strong and they look attractive.
The area of 'Tin Town' is quite big, there are about 180 of these houses still there, but soon they could be gone.
The owners of the houses were quite happy where they lived and many are still there today. The local council were going to knock them down but the people of these houses had it stopped. These houses are part of our history and people have had their lives in these houses.
Danny Gibbs, Ryan Broster & Phillip Lowe (9SR)

The conclusion I and many other people have come to, is that the houses were not only a great decision for housing problems in World War II, but a great decision for the future. The houses were not too costly, but well built, and have lasted many years after they were originally intended.
Tom Conde (9Y)

A tour around "Tin Town" with Phillip Rowe and Daniel Gibbs (Year 9)

Researched, photographed, scanned and written by Mr Royden's History Set 9A5 November/December 2003

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