The Plotlands – History No 3
Houses - Properties were often built entirely by the owners. They started as small huts and were added to as funds permitted. A couple of dwellings even incorporated train carriages (wheels removed).
It was also possible to buy a kit for a bungalow from a catalogue. The bungalow was a timber framed building built on a cement base. It was clad with tongue and groove timber on the bottom half painted black; the top half was clad in asbestos sheeting painted white.
The Avenues of the estate form a grid pattern, edged by old garden hedges and filled with a rich mixture of wild plants and garden escapes such as laurel, laburnham, roses and orchards. As you stroll around you will see the remains of outbuildings and garden layouts. Wooden floor supports, concrete steps and an odd chimney or two, garden gates or paths all that is left of an era.
These now provide a variety of habitats for insects, birds and mammals.