Birmingham's Hidden Treasures: Post-War Prefabs Traditional Cache
Hidden : 8/13/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Thanks to Butttercup for starting off this series and inviting others to add to it. This is one of my two offerings to the series. The information below is heavily based upon this site to which I am indebted and where you can go for further information, reading, links etc.

Prefab houses were the result of the 1944 Temporary Housing Programme, and were designed to provide a quick solution to the massive lack of housing caused by World War 2. Prefabs were built round a central core of kitchen, toilet and bathroom, designed by the Ministry of Works. They had two bedrooms, the fitted kitchen had fridge and cooker, running hot water, a wash boiler, and there was built in storage, electric lighting and sockets. For many, this was a huge leap in quality of life. Prefabs did not look like inter-war British houses, but more like American houses, so many thought they were American in design, but most were British designed and built.

Birmingham's prefab programme lasted from the end of the War until October 1948, by which time 4,625 had been provided. The buildings were expected to have a lifespan of just 15 years but many of them considerably outlived their shelf-life. However, the programme for the destruction and removal of the prefabs was inevitable, despite considerable resistance from tenants, councillors and others. Indeed, people were so fond of them that when they were due to be removed, they were offered the chance of taking them away, as long as they were not re-erected within the city. As a result, a number of 'holiday homes' appeared in the surrounding countryside and at the seaside!

In August 1978 a five-year programme of demolition of all the rest (1,250 by then) was released by the City’s Housing Committee. The storm of protest was such that the former Chairman of the Committee was supporting withdrawal of the demolition schedule, and asking for demolition only with consent of the tenants. The dispute rumbled on until the summer of 1980, when all but 17 of the City's remaining prefabs had their death-sentence confirmed.

The only ones still standing in Birmingham are on Wake Green Road on the border of Moseley and Hall Green. They are of the rare Phoenix type, which is why they were reprieved. In late 1980 a £45,000 refurbishment programme was undertaken, involving rewiring, improvements to the insulation of roofs and walls, and any other repairs that were necessary. They are still occupied today and became Grade II listed buildings in January 1998.

The cache is a 35mm film pot with logbook only. There is no pen / pencil so please bring your own. Bearing in mind the cache is in a residential area.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Sheavgher

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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