One conspicuous row of houses is found along the two-mile stretch of winding roads in Birmingham’s leafy suburb.
In order to address the housing crisis, the Government will turn to temporary accommodation in an effort to speed up its rebuilding efforts after the devastating Luftwaffe bombing attacks.
Winston Churchill’s wartime government ordered more than 156,000 flat-pack homes to be built in Britain.
Sometimes referred to in mocking terms as “tin can houses”, the steel-plate structures are only meant to serve as a temporary fix.
In a matter of ten years, thousands were destroyed and rebuilt with permanent structures.
But more than 70 years on some still remain, including a row situated on Wake Green Road in the leafy Birmingham suburb of Moseley.
These 17 prefabs, which are steel-framed, have had a certain following from supporters. They’re seen as ‘a testimony to and symbol for post-war recuperation and innovation, optimism for a brighter tomorrow’.
Also All except one of these are currently protected under planning terms, Grade-II listed status.
But half now lie empty as hollowed relics, sitting opposite pricey semi-detached homes with two car driveways and owned by high-flying professionals.
The residents of the Tin Can Homes insist they have no choice but to stay there.
Margaret Butler said, “They will have to take my out in a container,” a resident who lived in the prefab house for more than 40 years.
A few temporary homes remain 70 years after Britain’s post-war prefab drive.
Margaret Butler is one of the residents who insists she will not leave her “tin can” home after living there for over 40 years.
“This house is a family home since before the Second World War. Apart from new windows and central heating, it has not changed much. My brother also redecorated it.
Margaret Butler (pictured), who lives in one the prefab houses, says: “I want them all to remain as they are.” This is the place I want to live in for my entire life.
According to the 82-year old, “It’s nice living here.” My family has been living here for over 40 years. My mom died 21 years ago, and my dad before that.
“This house is a family home that has existed since before the Second World War. Apart from new windows, central heating, and redecoration by my brother it hasn’t really changed much.
It is possible to keep the room warm. The rain sometimes seeps from the ceiling but quickly dries out. This is not an issue.
Elle adds, “I want them stay the way they are.” It is where I want to live for the rest my life.
Brenda Grattan, age 78, lives together with Gypsy in the original two-bedroom home at the end of the row. The properties are owned by Birmingham City Council. She has been living there since she was 78 years old.
“I used to be a school caregiver before I came here. “It was weird when I moved in,” says Ms Grattan.
“I recall sitting down on the wall at the end of the road, looking up and being told by someone that this was the place where you can find the council’s home.”
“I looked at it, and I replied that I wasn’t living there.” That was quite shocking. However, I was eventually able to move in.
“I had to get everything rewired. It was full of pipes.
“An older man had lived in this area before I, and had taken one of the walls down. So I put it back up. With all of the debris that was here, I filled 10 skips.
“I lived here initially with my husband and there are two families just down from me who raised their children here.
‘One of the other neighbours I know has lived here a lot longer than me.’
Interiorly, Ms Grattan’s house is a typical bungalow. The walls have been beautifully wallpapered and there are ample rooms.
Next, she points out how the kitchen floor is sloped – evident in Gypsy’s rolling ball over it. It is stark reminder that this house isn’t your average home.
She insists that the house is in a ‘lovely place’. Ms Grattan stated that the property is ‘a lot larger inside than you would think.
I converted my other bedroom into a second living room, because my husband watched sports constantly on television.
“The council gave me a shower, but I think all the other people have had baths. It is beautiful.
Ms Grattan pays £96 per week for her one-storey home and says it’s worth every penny – but there’s one thing she’d like to change.
According to her, the only thing she doesn’t like about it is its toilet. It is so tiny, almost like an airplane toilet.
Lucy Burkett (24 years old) is a pub supervisor and lives in the prefab that’s privately owned with her boyfriend.
Lucy says, “I had never been to a place like it in my entire life.” “I had no idea about the history of this place when I moved in.
Interior of the house is a typical bungalow. (pictured) The walls and rooms look spacious, as well as the large gardens.
Brenda Grattan’s Back Garden to Her Pre-Factory Second World War Bungalow in Wake Green Road, Moseley
It belonged to my boyfriend’s friend, so we moved here. The inside is beautiful. There are two bedrooms inside and it has been beautifully decorated. It feels homey.
“We only have been living here for just over one year. We’ve received quite a lot of people knocking at our doors asking if it’s possible to buy it. These people are just part of Birmingham.
Lawrence Attenborrow (82), the prefabs’ longest living resident, was moved to Wake Green Road 52 year ago by his wife Patricia. He died in 2020.
Lisa, Lisa’s daughter who lives and cares for him there, thinks her dad is the longest-sitting resident of Prefabs.
Lawrence and Patricia were there to raise their three children. For many years they slept in the livingroom on a couch bed so their daughters and son could have separate bedrooms.
Lawrence, who is a former builder and worker in a factory, says, “We have been very happy here.”
“When my children were growing up I told my wife, “We needed another place. We wanted somewhere larger.”
“But my spouse loved it here. “But my wife loved it here. She suggested that we get a bed sofa and then the kids can sleep in the bedroom.
Lawrence says that he doesn’t think he will live in the area for his entire life.
“I have seen my neighbors go and come. Many people have passed away here over the years. People rarely move.
“People want these areas, but I’m not sure why.”
Lisa, his daughter adds that he has lived in the area all of his life. It was a wonderful place to grow up. The home was warm, welcoming and had beautiful wildlife.
“I have always been very conscious of the history of this house. After school, my friends would call me and tell me that I lived in a “funny house”.
“My mom loved the prefabs. She always wanted to live here. Which she did.” Lisa says, “I would love to stay here.” It’s home to me.
In 1942, just three years before war ended, Winston Churchill had begun to consider ways of combating the housing crisis.
Ms Grattan pays £96 per week for her one-storey home and says it’s worth every penny. She would love to have a bigger bathroom.
On the orders Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister of Britain, more than 156,000 “prefab” homes were constructed across Britain. However, many of these homes were destroyed after 10 years. They were replaced by permanent structures.
Many homes were destroyed by Luftwaffe bombing raids. The situation would only get worse once the British soldiers who served in France, Italy West Africa and the Middle East were demobilised. It was urgent that a quick and cheap solution be found.
Churchill, during one his famous radio broadcasts of March 1944, announced that the Emergency Factory Made Housing program was being established.
As many as 156,000 pre-fabs homes went up across the country, with around 4,000 prefabs installed across Birmingham.
Various models made their way to Birmingham, including the 17 Phoenix-brand prefabs in Wake Green Road, which cost around £1,200 each to build in 1947.
These houses, which were built from steel plates over rolled iron poles, were preferred over more fragile models.
Birmingham Live was told by David Humphries that he is a prefab enthusiast from the area. Although they were designed to last only 10 years, many survived well into their 60s and 70s.
“The people who moved in loved them. Many of the other residents in Birmingham were gone in the late 1970s. However, Wake Green Road had a lot more to offer.
Grade II-Listed status was awarded to the 16 Moseley-owned council-owned units. It gives them more protection against future redevelopment.
Although it doesn’t stop homes from being redeveloped it places significant protections against buildings being considered’special interests’.
Birmingham City Council has done some work since then, including replacing Windows, central heating system upgrades and replacements are all possible but many properties still retain their original character.
The council has plans in place to rebuild the prefab homes. However, it says that additional funds are needed to fund this project.
MailOnline was informed by a spokesperson from the authority that: “Birmingham City Council conducted various feasibility studies and option appraisals to determine the best course of action to preserve the Wake Green Road Prefabs. They came to the conclusion that the Prefabs should be restored sympathetically to current standards.
“However this project is extremely technical complex and very expensive. This cost was offset by the council seeking alternative funding sources, such as Heritage Lottery Funding.
“However, none of these alternatives generate enough funding to carry out the required works without substantial funding from the councils Capital Investment Programme. This project is currently on hold. However, the council remains committed to the work and the bringing empty properties back to use.
“To achieve this goal, we’re reviewing costs and revisiting funding options.
“In the meantime we have support from the local Estates Services Team and are looking into the provision of non-obtrusive security fencing/hoarding for the vacant properties.
Prefabs were the homes for those who lived in post-war Britain.
After the destruction of London by the Luftwaffe during World War II, housing authorities had to adopt the American model for building prefabricated houses.
The 1944 Housing Act authorised the Government to spend up to £150 million on temporary houses in areas like Lewisham, where more than 1,500 homes had been destroyed during just the first year of conflict.
The prefab houses are affordable and simple to build. Residents and local councils loved them.
After the Second World War, Gunner Hector Murdoch returns to his London prefabricated home in Tulse Hill. His wife and son are there to greet him.
Tens of thousands of pre-fab homes were built in the UK as an emergency measure after the Second World War, at a cost of £200million
While it might seem odd by modern standards, the prefabs were quickly synonymous with luxury and comfort.
The War-time Government was proud to show off its innovative idea and ordered a replica for display at London’s Tate Gallery.
This ‘palace for the people” was mass-produced in parts at a factory before being assembled on various sites across the country.
The Excalibur Estate, Catford’s 187-home estate, and even the prefab church it contained, is the only one that survived, even though the original tenants were told it would last for a mere ten years.