Plaque Wording:
Designed by the eminent Architect Maxwell Fry in 1937, Kensal House was hailed at the time as the first "modern" housing scheme in Britain.
Kensal House forged new frontiers for social housing in several innovative ways. Built by the Gas, Light and Coke Company to house its work force and their families, it was the British attempt to produce a self-contained and self-supporting community. With its own nursery and residents social club, containing sewing rooms and workshops, the fame of Kensal House spread far and wide.
Kensal House was also built as a practical demonstration of the economic use of gas, the comprehensive use of which throughout the flats was included in the weekly rent of 11s 6d.
Kensal House is now a Grade II Listed Building and in 1991/1992 was provided with much needed environmental and security improvements with monies provided under the Governments "Estate Action" programme and by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Ten years later, modernisation works were carried out in 2001/02 funded by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. These works provided residents with new double glazed windows, new kitchens, new insulated roofs and large scale concrete repairs were undertaken to the building structure.
Kensal House forged new frontiers for social housing in several innovative ways. Built by the Gas, Light and Coke Company to house its work force and their families, it was the British attempt to produce a self-contained and self-supporting community. With its own nursery and residents social club, containing sewing rooms and workshops, the fame of Kensal House spread far and wide.
Kensal House was also built as a practical demonstration of the economic use of gas, the comprehensive use of which throughout the flats was included in the weekly rent of 11s 6d.
Kensal House is now a Grade II Listed Building and in 1991/1992 was provided with much needed environmental and security improvements with monies provided under the Governments "Estate Action" programme and by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Ten years later, modernisation works were carried out in 2001/02 funded by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. These works provided residents with new double glazed windows, new kitchens, new insulated roofs and large scale concrete repairs were undertaken to the building structure.