I am ones again up on my much used proverbial soap box
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This time to tell yet another sad tale of how we are in the process of losing FOREVER yet another part of our history.......Our Heritage......
This time I am talking Prefabs or as the small but perfect homes were ones called.....
HOMES FIT FOR HEROS
This Picture of Hector Murdoch's historic homecoming in 1946 became one of the war's most famous images
The first prefabs were completed June 1945 only weeks after the war had ended.
Factories that had previously been employed to build other products such as Aeroplanes were converted to build sections of the innovative new houses.
It took a minimum of 40 man-hours to assemble the two bedroom houses complete with plumbing and heating.
Sometimes as in the case of those prefabs built in Catford prisoners of war who were still being held in the country were used to help in the construction of the concrete slabs on which the sections of prefabs were erected.
The prefabs could be completed very quickly once the sections were delivered to the site.
Unlike traditional houses they had fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms.
Despite the construction of 156,622 prefabs the country still faced an acute housing shortage and waiting lists soared in urban areas
In Catford South -East London on the Excalibur Estate only six of the remaining 187 compact bungalows, prefabs erected from factory-built panels by German and Italian prisoners of war in 1945 and 1946, will be saved, these six received Grade-II listing last year.
The remainder of the Excalibur estate in Catford, south-east London, will be demolished, along with its tin-roofed prefab church, St Mark's, believed to be one of a kind.....
As a child growing up in Ilford Essex I remember only to well the prefabs that backed on to Barking Park in Loxford Lane, opposite Loxford Park....
Oh how I longed to live in one of them.......
I also remember these homes being demolished and replaced by concrete soulless maisonettes.......I can remember thinking then..... why ???
These prebas (homes) were expected to last for only 10 years but they proved very popular with some residents, so much so that these 187 are still being lived in and are part of our heritage.
The question has to be asked When will we learn........
Cheerio Ho.
My favourite place of all time is a small but beautifully shop decorated like an old Hollywood actress's attic with wooden floorboards, old cabinets packed with jewellery and accessories and lots of old black and white photos that give it a genuine boho feel.
There's racks of incredible vintage dresses, skirts, suits, blouses, knitwear and coats dotted everywhere you look and a few select dresses hanging from the ceiling.
I can tell that the owner is clearly a dedicated fashion follower that has encylopediac knowledge of different styles and periods in fashion history.
Am I going to tell you where my very own secret attic is .... maybe ... one day ...soon
With the promises of the ultimate girls’ afternoon and luxury vintage experience I trundled of through the tunnel to the land of Jack Rabbit Slim & The Cherry Lounge on the Wirral.
With the dainties of hand make cakes and chocolate for eleven's and lashing of hot tea served in china cups from china tea pots we were warmly welcomed by Betty Bee & Lilly Von Pink to their Vintage pamper day.
The room was buzzing, the atmosphere was electric and friendly, along with giggles came lots of name, email and mobile telephone number swapping, there is nothing like alike mind new friend......
We were at the start of a journey back to the glamours eras of the 1940' & 1950's.........
We were treated to a beginners lesson in Burlesque by none other than the great.......
the wonderful......... the very one and only..........
Millie Dollar...... Of Martin Lounge Fame.
This young lady has a figure to die for and is grace personified.
After the Burlesque lesson we had a group photo taken with Millie..... such a sweet person.
Then came lunch sweet dainty home made sandwiches, more chocolate, more dainty cakes and further lashings of tea in china cups....
Then came the Master Class in Hollywood Hair & Make up....Lots more oohs... and Ahas....Sequels.....Giggles....and Oh You Look Lovely......That lipstick really suits you........
And then last but by no means least a 1950's cheese cake photo shoot, in the outfit of your choice.
Photos professionally taken by none other than Mr Bee himself and your favourite shot turned into a A4 print.... 
Now you know were my blog photo was taken .....
I had the most amazing day met some lovely gals and have every intention of going to another one very soon...
http://www.bettybeevintage.co.uk/pages/home.php
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