After the First World War, an experiment in mass-produced housing was developed in Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Cast iron council houses were designed to be cheap and easy to build. The 600 cast iron panels could be bolted together in 8 days, but the cost per pair of houses turned out to be £1000.
Another slight drawback was the possibility of stone-throwing children making the house resound like a gong.
Only three pairs were built, and one remains. (Guardian, 14.03.96)
See 4-D House.
© Paul Taylor 2001