The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-29 00:00:00

PRINCE ALBERT'S MODEL HOUSES FOR

LABOURERS.

On leaving the Crystal Palace by the main south
entrance, one of the first objects which meets the eye, on
the opposite side of the way, is a small symmetrical brick •
structure of two stories, whose casement windows, open
porch, and external gallery, give it an aspect both cheery
and unique. It is Prince Albert's model house, erected at
his private charge, and ur.der his personal superintendence.
His royal highness, who is president of the society for hnprov-
fag the dwellings of the labouring chimes, has conceived that
tllYds is a favourable time for diffusing among persons of means
genetical information as to the manner in which they may,
utiliser pecuniary sacrifice, permanently benefit those who
are greatly dependent upon other; for home conveniences
and comforts, and hence this model house. Before describ-
ing more particularly the construction of this edifice it
should be stated that its plan has been adapted for towns
and their immediate vicinity, where land is dear, and
where it is of importance to economise space by placing
more than one family under the same roof. On crossing
the threshold the visitor finds himself standing under an
open porch, where he perceives that the building is double.
On his right hand and left, namely, at the opposite extremi-
ties of the porch, are two stout oak-stained doors, and before
him rises a !light of stairs constructed of thick slate, and
leading to the extern gallery. Let him turn and enter
one of the door, say that on his left hand : he is now in the
living room, an apartment about ten and a half feet wide
and fourteen feet from front to bark. It has one window
looking into the road, the casement of which, made of tine
and iron, is divided into lozenge-shaped panes. The floor
is formed of Staffordshire tiles. The roof is the most striking
feature of this chamber, being formed of bricks set in cement,
and arched to the extent of about 4or 9 inches. The arch
is tied with wrought iron rods connect: d with cast iron ,
springers which re't on the outer walls, an.l hind the
whole structure together. The fireplace contains a grate'
of the simplest construction, line with fire-clay. By its
side is a closet, to which warm air may be introduced trout
the back of the range. Over the mantle is an iron rod for
hanging pictur.-s, and on the opposite side of the room is a
shelf. -In front of the window hangs a deal board capable
of serving. as an ironing-board, a table, or, when thrown
up, as an interior shutter. Such is the living room. At
the end of this apartment, opposite to the window, are two
mains, each nine feet in depth and equal to half the
width of the living room; they are intended as bed-
rooms for children, and, opening out of the middle
room, afford an opportunity for the exercise of pa-
rental watchfulness without the unwholesome crowding
of the living room by its use as a sleeping apartment. Each
has a window opening in the rear of the house and a fire
place. The living room and the two sleeping rooms just
described, constitute the outer half of the space allotted to
one family. The remaining portion is not all applicable
to domestic use, a part of it being required for the
porch sad lobby. Between the living loom and the parting
wall which bisects the centre structure, are the scullery
and parent's bed room. The scullery is fitted up with a
sink, and beneath which is it coal bin of slate, a plate rack
at ono end drained by a slate slab into the sink, covers the
entrance to a dust shalt which is inclosed by a balanciag
self-acting door. A meat safe is also fixed h :re and venti-
lated through the brickwork. This room is lighted fro:n
the porch by a window of thick gin-.. The parent sled-room
with a superficial area of about loaf pia t i. entered through the
scullery, a recess in this room provides a closet fir linen,
and a shelf is carried over the door, with a rail fixed be•
neath it—a provision is made in each of the other
bedrooms. Between the scullery and the porch is a water-
closet, fitted up with a Statfonleltire glazed baein, which is
complete without any wood fittings, and supplied with
water from it slate cistern, in common, of 160 gallons,
placed on the roof, over the party and staircase walls. The
same pipes which carry away th • rail, water serve for the
use of the closets. Four sAs of monis, such M have now

been described, are combined in the model building—one
on each side of the ground floor, and two upstairs. The
external gallery corresponds to the porch in size and pur-
pose, and all the tenements torr.spond in plan.
It now only remains to allude to a few constructive pecu-
liarities of the budding. The most ,triking of these arc
the exclusive use of hollow bricks, and the entire absence
of timber in the floors and roof. The brick roof arching is
levelled with concrete, and covered with patent metallic
lava. The upper rooms arc by this means scoured front the
liability to change of temperature to which apartments
next the roof are generally subject, and the transmission of
sound, as well as the percolation of moisture, is effectually
impeded.
By the use of hollow patent bonded facing bricks, the
walls are exempted from that absorption of moisture Mei-
(lent to CO/111110/1 bricks, and the roams, no longer subject
to loss of temp eratur.• by evaporation, are rendered wanner
and drier. Another great benefit arising front the use of
hollow bricks is, that when Laid double in parallel courses
without headers the internal face of the wall is so smooth as
to render plastering unnecessary. Another advantage
attending the use of hollow bricks, and illustrated here, is
far too important to be overlooked, namely, the means they
afford of securing an . ffective ventilation. Into the living-
room fresh air okay be admitted from any suitable point of
the exterior of the building to a chamber at the back of the
lire-place, where, being warmed, it may be conducted to
any convenient place of exit above the level at which fresh
air is admitted. Vitiated air may be conveyed into the
chimney flue through the upper wall courses, perforated
for this purpose, benoath the springing of the arch, or
through the arch-bricks themselves.
In order to show the various modes of finishing
an interior wall, without having recourse to paper or
white or coloured wadi, the walls of two of the upper floor
living rooms are built of bricks, with glazed surfaces, and
Fr, uch plaster ha; been applied to another of the walls.
The floor', where nut of Staffordshire tiles, are of Portland
cement, except the right hand find floor which is of lava.
A metallic lava also nicer= the roof, and a gravel lava forms
the floor of the front. All the doors and window frames
are stained to an oak colour. A variety of fittings, suitable
for house. of the labouring class, but nut incorporated in
this building, is displayed in the s• verul rooms. Among
these are earthenware b .sins and pans, stoves, chimney-
pieces, clay ovens, &c.
The cost of four tenements built on this model, with
ordinary materials, 1 finished like the ground-fluor
apartments, will, of course vary with the facilities of obtain-
ing materials, and tae value of labour. lit most parts of I
England it win be near 1101. for each tenement, and the
dwellings will let for 1 61. to 4.. a week.

ELECTIONEERING MOVEMENTS. —We understand
that Sir E. L. B. Lytton, Bart., has so far succeeded in
wiuuing the approbation of the fn....holders of his native
county by the publeation of his pamphlet, as to become
their choice (:n place of Mr. T. Brand, one of the present
member.), a, protettioaid candidate at the next gf.ueral
election, and will be returned without opposition. The
honourable baronet tindinA by the recent manifesto at the
Guildhall that his supporters in Lincoln are becoming
"smaller by degrees an l beautifully less," has consented to
take his Feat for Ilertfonl,hire. It is stated, amid the
various rumours ail Ltt, th it Mr. Ilumfrey will again come
forward for the city, in conjunction with Col. Silithorp ;
and that the Bulwer party will join the liberals in return-
ing Mr. Hobhouse and Mr. Scely.—Lincolashire Times.
CANTERBURY COLONY, NEW ZE.tLIND.—.k meet-
in.; of the members of the Canterbury Association, was held
yesterday, at their rooms, Adelphi•termco, Captain Simeon
in the chair, at which Lord Lyttelton, and a numerous
body of the members, attended, to hear the despatches and
private kit ors read which announced the arrival of the
colonists at the new settlement. Thy vessels which left
England with the new colonists, the Charlotte Jane, the
Itandolph, and the Sir George Seymour, arrived on tile
16th of Decemher, within 12 hours of each other, and the
Cressy on the 27th. Fr en the Ilespatelt of Mr. thallev, the
agent of-the association, it appeared that Sir George tircy,
the Governor of New was pr..sent on the
arrival of the vessels' au I reduced the duty on the
ritimported. The cedssay bad also been visited by the
1p of New Zealand, in his schooner, who hid preached
twice, and opened their Hest whorl. The chief town it
had been determined to establish at Christchurch
and not at I'nrt Lyttelom, a. originally intend,d, and great
exertion, had been made to complete a road into the inte-
rior; several of the claimants to the quarter-acre town
allotments, It 1.1 let the-ii on km: for 14 years, at the rate of
Ste., 1101., and 1301. p:r annum; four church services had
leen held on each Sunder. The price of provisions was not
high, meat being Jul. per le. ; and flour, 255. a cwt.; sawn
timber was 16s. per 100 feet, which prices it was experted
would go down after the first pre:Aram; SOO sheep hail
arrived from New South Wales. A lithographic press was
in work. The letters of the colonists were of the most
favourable nature, and they were bolting anxilu%ly for the
arrival of boats and horses from the other settlements.
CHURCH REFORM MEETlNG.—Yesterday a meet-
ing of clergymen and laymen from various parts of Eng-
land was held at the Frecuta.one Tavern, to concert mea-
sure; for the estab.i-hof at of a tropolitan INWCIAtiOII,
having for its object the promotion of a timely and efficient
reform of the national church, so as to effect a closer con-
formity with the Scripture in its ritual, polity, ministry,
and patronage. J. Sullivan, Esq., of Brightoa, presided.
Mr. H. Leander mused a resolution pledging the meeting
to endeavour to carry the British Reformation to its legiti-
mate development in the spirit of the reformers of the 16th
century, whose mums were checked by the prejudices of the
times, and to clear the church of every vestige of popery then
left in her formularies. Alto to regard general union more
than matters of ceremonial, and to aim at a comprehension
of evangelical Christians now non-conforming. Mr. 11. Ellis
seconded the resolution. The Rev. T. Sutton, of '
Marton,
and C. B. Warren, of Hooksley, addressed the meeting, and
the resolution was carried, excepting the reference to popery,
which was omitted as indefinite. It was further resolved,
" That the clergy and laity ought to go hand in hand to
promote the following church reforms:—First, a revision
of the Prayer-book ; and second, a removal of the abuses
attaching to church property andchurch patronage." After
which a totanlittee was appointed to watch over the
llataMarnats

HARWICH ELECTION.

CLOSE OF THE POLL—WEDNESDAY.
Crawford (free trader) I3S
Prinsep 127

Majority for Crawford.. 6
Mr. Crawford had the lead of his opponent throughout
the day, with a majority at tea o'clock of 20, and gradually
decreasing to the number by which be has been returned.
After tbe declaration of the poll he briefly addrcued the
electors. Mr. Prinsep did not make his appearance at the
Towa-hall.