After WWII, Tattenham Corner and Preston was still mainly open farmland. The Council estate that now comprises Upland and Downland Way was about to be built but the Preston development was still years away. There were two adjoining plots of land for sale in what is now Ferriers Way and Chetwode Drive. This land became one of the country’s most successful self-build projects.
This is a story of 40 men’s determination to build their own homes at a time of severe housing shortage. It has been summarised from a story written by two of the participants, Michael Ewen and Dennis Dawson, which they published in the early 2000’s. Michael still lives in Chetwode Drive and is the only original project participant living in the house he built. There is a link to the full publication at the end of this article.
After the war so many homes were destroyed by bomb damage and the Southeast was the worst affected area. As part of plans to increase housing stock the government was keen to encourage self-build projects particularly for ex-servicemen. The usual rules were relaxed to make it easier to obtain finance but there was still the need for skilled tradesmen and a long-term commitment to get the project off the ground.
The “Banstead Self Build Housing Scheme” was the brainchild of two or three local men who lacked or had extremely limited accommodation. These first few people, whilst having some financial expertise did not have the building trades skills needed. They would talk over a beer at the local village hall about the idea of building their own homes and interest grew to around 20. But there was a lot to organise. Finding land, financing that land, and building materials, acquiring the necessary trades skills, and working out a plan to achieve their goal. Over the next two years interest would rise and fall and some men left, and others joined. There was also a slight distrust between those with trades skills and those without.
A piece of land became available sufficient to build 20 houses (the Ferriers Way site) with another adjacent plot (the Chetwode Drive site) possible in the future but requiring further negotiation. At that time there were 30 men in the group so they decided to go for the larger site which would provide 40 homes. A risk because they needed to grow their group and the additional land was not certain.
The men were able to increase their group to 40 and in doing so acquire any building trade skills that were missing from the original number. The finances were organised, and a standard house plan agreed (two types of three-bedroomed semi-detached with garage). Each skilled tradesman was given two jobs: first, his own trade and second, a job more relevant to the project’s requirements. Non-tradesmen’s abilities (such as office workers) were assessed and allocated tasks such as cement mixing, digging the footings and general labouring. There were no soft options.
It was agreed that each man would work 20 hours a week on site. This work was mainly carried out at the weekend but those on shift work would put their hours in during the week. It should be noted that with a normal 45 hour working week for their main job, these men were working 65 hours per week 52 weeks a year and only being paid for 45. Each man was allowed one weekend off per year but would work on bank holidays.
The project started on a cold wintery morning. Their first priority was to install a site hut large enough for storage as well as for an office and canteen. It had to be conveniently sited for deliveries but not in the way of building work. Over the next few weekends the site was cleared and the foundations for the first two properties pegged out. Next footings were dug, and materials started to arrive. There were no lorries with built in cranes in those days, so bricks were unloaded manually by a chain gang throwing three bricks at a time, quite a skill.
Some for the men relaxing in the hut. From left to right: Ken Strevens, Ted Penny, Gerald Rose, Michael Ewen, George Taylor, and Bill Ayling. Michael comments “All so young and happy, at that time they may have been on a diet as there is no food on the table, or was this a sign of those were hard times, and note the wet coats in the background” [Photo colourised from an original black & white copy]
When the footings to one house were finished, the bricklayers moved in whilst work started on the next property. Scaffolding was then put up around the first pair of houses to provide access to the upper brickwork and roof timbers.
The work was very hard, and a few men found the physical demands and family pressures too much. Those that pulled out left with nothing and were quickly replaced. In accordance with the rules that everyone had agreed to, there was no payment for past labour.
Eventually the first houses were completed and occupied usually in joining order. Those with a home continued working but increased their hours to 25 per week as they had no travelling time. They also paid rent of £2. 10s shillings (£2.50) a week until the whole project was completed.
With the first 20 houses almost completed there were concerns over the purchase of the second plot of land. This was delayed causing a six-month halt in the project. But negotiations were eventually finalised, and, after a delay, work started again on the second group of houses.
The project ran from 1951 to 1955 before the final homes were ready for occupation. At this time, the properties were still “owned” by the project but were then “sold” to the individual participants at a price based on the total project cost. Michael remembers obtaining a mortgage of £4,500.
The project was considered a great success and the site received many visitors keen to run their own projects. Sadly, few were as successful as this one. There was a celebratory party once the project was complete. A large tent was erected on an adjacent green space. With drinks and nibbles on hand, dancing took place to the tunes of Glen Miller.
Michael Ewen
Whilst this project is a story of determination and hard work, the person who jointly authored this original story also deserves a mention for his achievements.
Michael Ewen was born in 1927 and left school at 14 to become a building trades apprentice. He then joined the army at 17 as a regular and served in the 4th Royal Tank Regiment as a tank driver.
After seeing action in Italy, he was invalided out and upon returning to civvy street he went to the London Polytechnic on a building apprenticeship and achieved his City & Guilds exams. At the time he lived in South Norwood.
He applied for a job at Newmarks on the Purley Way. Newmark was originally a jeweller and importer of Swiss watches but after the war and with government support began manufacturing their own range of watches. Between 1946 and 1961 it produced over seven million watches but in the end the decline of British manufacturing led to its closure.
Michael expected to join as a maintenance man, but he impressed his interviewer so much he was taken on as a trainee watchmaker and put through a six-month training course. He also scored points for being an injured ex-serviceman.
Michael excelled at watch making and was earning good money with piece work and overtime. He was now married to Iris and was considering emigrating to Australia where his skills were in huge demand. But he learnt from a colleague about the Banstead Self Build Project and decided to join that instead. Although now working in a highly technical and delicate environment he still had his original building trades skills.
He continued working at Newmarks whilst helping to build the 40 self-build houses. He went on to become a salesman for Hoover before setting up his own business. He ran a DIY store and sold pre-packed cement under the brand name Ewemix but sold out in 1988 at the age of 61 and took early retirement.
He will be 95 this year and still lives in the house he helped to build in Chetwode Drive. Sadly, his wife, Iris, died eight years ago but he has a daughter, Linda, who now lives in Holland.
TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF MICHAEL EWEN’S AND DENNIS DAWSON’S FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS PROJECT CLICK HERE