The London Archives Southern Housing collection
Originally donated in 2001, the collection held at the London archives includes more than 800 records of the Samuel Lewis Housing Trust and legacy organisations from its inception to 1992. The collection includes details of Samuel and Ada Lewis, as well as property records and records of other trusts and societies with which they were involved.
There are also oral history tapes and papers relating to a project undertaken in 2001 for the centenary celebration.
The collection is open to the public to view on request.
The London Archives were kind enough to allow us a special visit to view a range of items from the collection as part of our 125 anniversary celebrations.
Where it all began
One of the first items in the collection we viewed was the will of Samuel Lewis from 1901, in which he specifically nominates a sum to be put in trust with the intention to build homes for London’s poorest families.
“As to the sum of £400,000 part thereof, free of duty in trust, that my trustees shall therewith establish at one or more places in England dwellings for the poor in man of following, that is to say.”
The collections also contains a number of portraits and photographs of Samuel and Ada Lewis as well as the first Chairs and Trustees.
The financials
Included in the collection were the first financial statements for the Samuel Lewis Trust that shows the initial expenditure for the first development site
For the first Liverpool Road properties, the land cost £21,000 and the building's cost £79,000, so a total of £100,000 for the first 151 homes.
We also saw the interesting details of the government bond portfolio where they invested the balance, pending building out other sites.
What was on offer in the first homes?
It was fascinating to view the first marketing materials for the Liverpool Road homes.
“The whole of the tenements has been built on a self-contained principle. Each has its own scullery and WC.”
One room tenement cost between two shillings and six pence a week, up to a three-room tenement for 6 shillings and 6 pence, or 8 shillings.
Included in those costs where chimney sweeping and free use of Venetian blinds. Access to the drying room and cycle sheds is provided, for an additional charge on one penny per week.
Our first residents
Included in the collection we saw the annual reports, each was just 4 pages, something for us to aim for today! The annual reports gave details of the first residents of the Samuel Lewis Trust estates.
They show that in 1910 there were 28 births and 16 deaths in the homes. The employment of the first residents was also listed and includes:
“29 car men, 4 butchers, 2 brass finishers, 1 metal worker, 3 messengers and 4 nurses”
The reports also include a table of the rents and the capital accounts for the Trust.
125 years of providing homes
It was such a privilege to step back in time and view the collection. Our real takeaway was just how similar the job we do today is to when we first began. It wasn’t difficult to find relevant materials for development, housing management, HR, the Treasury, finances and governance.
We’d like to thank the London Archives for bringing to life what we do and allowing us to reflect on 125 years of helping people in housing need.
Look out for our special Archive visit video, coming soon!