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It Happened in Norwich. Operation Prefab

1947 , Norwich (Norfolk)

Cat no. 118

The arrival and construction of 'prefab' housing as a solution to the post-war housing shortage.

The arrival and erection of a 'prefab' in the Heigham Road area of Norwich just after World War II. There are interior scenes as well as exterior shots of the building process. The film begins with the arrival of the 'prefab' and its positioning by crane on a pre-prepared base. The fireplace and a modern fitted bathroom are shown to be in place before the 'prefab' arrives. The sections are slotted together. The chimney is dropped in and the roof is fixed. Interior scenes show family activities, including washing up and putting the baby to bed. The film gives a good idea of the general layout and furnishing.

Featured Buildings

St. Philips Church, Heigham Road

Keywords

Building construction; Housing; Post-war economics; Prefabs

Background Information

2,000 Norwich homes were completely destroyed by the bombing campaigns in World War II. 30,000 were damaged, some beyond repair. The City Council launched an ambitious scheme to build 2,000 new homes in 5 years. This they managed. However, people could not remain homeless for that length of time.The prefabs were designed as short term accommodation. The first of 350 'prefabs' to be erected in Norwich was put up in 1946. They were designed to last for 10 years, but the last one, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Miller in Magpie Road, wasn't dismantled until 1976. This particular example is believed to have been in Belvoir Road.

Manifestations

It Happened in Norwich. Operation Prefab

  • Barcode
    INV394627
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:32
    Modification Date
    27/09/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    729845
  • Barcode
    INV366822
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:32
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    724922
  • Barcode
    INV344032
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:32
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    724158
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV334373
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    DV digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:32
    Modification Date
    10/05/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    710430
  • Barcode
    INV206265
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    master digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:01:36
    Modification Date
    24/02/2010
    Parts
    Reference
    681215
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV167639
    Canonical Identifier
    TB 255
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    Umatic tape
    Dimension
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    22/07/2008
    Parts
    Reference
    673157
  • Barcode
    INV??1858
    Canonical Identifier
    VP-476
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    562859
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV295163
    Canonical Identifier
    2000/88
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Duration
    0:01:36
    Has Sound
    N
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    positive
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    562215
    Sound
    silent
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV??0645
    Canonical Identifier
    2000/88
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Has Sound
    N
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    negative
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    560718
    Sound
    silent
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV??0646
    Canonical Identifier
    2000/88
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Has Sound
    N
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    negative
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    560717
    Sound
    silent

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