| Description | Three Council tenement blocks, built in 1914, and probably designed by K F Campbell (Borough Engineer). The area of central Huddersfield in which these tenements lie was designated an Insanitary District in 1909, containing courts, alleys and cellars of sub standard housing. Huddersfield Corporation had already built a Hostel (now Batteys Buildings), and privately built tenements were constructed immediately to the south in 1911. The Kirkgate tenements were unlike other corporation housing of the period, which was aimed at artisan class occupiers rather than the lowest class of workers provided for here. The basic provision for each apartment was for two rooms and an internal toilet, which would have been a substantial improvement on the previous accommodation of the tenants. The approximate date of construction is 1914, and they certainly pre date the post war programme of housing in Huddersfield. Pre First World War local authority housing is relatively rare outside London, and this group is unusual in catering for the very poorest clients. Stylistically they are in the forefront of the design of such buildings, being early examples among a small group in Northern cities. They form a strong group and have survived with remarkably little alteration both externally and internally, though some internal features have been lost
The three buildings are constructed in coursed dressed sandstone with slate roofs. They are situated in a row, with their long axes running approximately east west parallel to each other, with Tudor House at the north. All feature uniform architectural detail, and are of three storeys, with a stairwell projecting at the west end and a balcony on the south side providing access. The doors and wooden framed windows have ashlar dressings. Iron railings surround the whole, with a small enclosed courtyard between Tudor and York House and between York and Stewart House. Each block provided 12 units of accommodation. There are communal coal houses alongside the stairs.
The interiors of the flats are largely standard, with slight variations at the front and in Tudor House. The front door leads into a small lobby with a built in cupboard and then to the main room. This has a false lowered ceiling, and the fireplace has been removed. The partition wall at the rear is original, but that between the kitchen and bathroom is later as originally there was only a toilet cubicle in the rear corner. Some of the flats have built in cupboards beside the chimney breast. Tudor House flats have larger rear rooms and the front flats are differently organised though with similar provisions.
(Text edited from English Heritage’s LBO description) |