SOME of Reading’s oldest homes are approaching their 100th birthdays.
Despite being commissioned as temporary accommodation, they have stood the test of time, with some still in use.
Whitley Community Museum curator David Turner explained: “The main build of the Whitley estate commenced during the 1930s.
“However, during the 1920s prefabricated homes started to appear around Reading, including in Whitley.
“These homes were known as prefabs.”
According to Mr Turner, these houses were more than sufficient to accommodate residents’ everyday needs.
Kitchens consisted of metal wall cupboards and base units, while heating came in the form of a stove powered by a back boiler.
This would have been able to supply households with hot water.
Although primarily built as temporary accommodation, some prefabs are still in use around Reading, with a few Whitley residents still remembering first living in these houses.
Mr Turner said: “During the 1970s, I worked in the Council Housing Department and was often called out for minor issues.
“One tenant I remember asked if the council could supply some paint that could be used on the metal kitchen units.
“On the whole, tenants liked the homes and were not eager to move.”
With over 4,600 followers on Facebook, the Whitley Community Museum is an accessible online and in-person resource.
The group serves as a platform for residents past and present to share memories through photographs and comments.
It also allows group members to reconnect, with members reacquainting themselves with friends and schoolmates from decades ago.
The museum held a Whitley Way Back When event at the Community Cafe on Northumberland Avenue earlier this year to showcase its photographs and exhibits in-person.
