Summary

Early C20 semi detached houses by Karfik and Gahura in International Modern style.

Full description

This is a complete planned industrial settlement centred around the British Bata Shoe Co., established in East Tilbury by the Czech Tomas Bata in 1933. Bata provided all the housing and social needs of the workforce - over 300 houses, a hotel, four dormitory buildings, shops, swimming pool, memorial gardens, orchard, sports facilities, college, fire station and a 300 acre farm. The settlement at Tilbury was based on another Bata development at Zlin in Moravia designed by modernist architects Vladimir Karfik and Frantizek L. Gahura. The majority of the rendered or painted brick flat roofed houses, with the exception of those built after 1959 are in the Modernist style.

The first Czech designed houses were built in Bata Avenue by 1933 and were followed by three parallel roads (Thomas Bata, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Avenues) of modernist houses built before and after WW2. These later houses varied slightly according to status, providing different internal layouts and larger executive houses, the latter built with extended frontages and a first floor balcony. Pre-war rents for small houses were 10/- (50p) per week, the larger ones were 25/- (£1.25p) per week. Successive developments along Princess Avenue and Gloucester Avenue in 1959 and 1966 moved away from the flat roofed modern architecture and adopted a more conventional pitched roof design. The housing has now been sold either to individuals or housing trusts and the factory is now closed.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL: The estate remains in its original form and most of the houses and other community facilities remain. External integrity has been largely maintained although internal inspection is required to assess the original configurations.

SITE SIGNIFICANCE: This is a mid C20 planned company village consisting of housing and community facilities built around the factory. Much of the architecture is Modern Movement based on the Czech model at Zlin. Integrity of layout and design are all retained.

CURRENT STATUS: Conservation Area and Nos. 2, 4-6, 8-10, 12-14,
16-18, 24-26, 28-30 and 32-34 Bata Avenue all listed Grade II

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Maintain current status and consider the listing of more individual buildings as typical examples. The settlement as a whole and in particular those buildings potentially at threat, such as the redundant factory buildings should be duly recognized and protected in the Conservation Area Plan. If large scale development is proposed in the area of East Tilbury, its importance should be considered as part of the Master Plan Development (MPD).

MANAGEMENT: All these houses continue in residential use and as such are well maintained. Internal inspection to assess original spatial configuration is recommended when the opportunity arises.

GRADING: **** <1>

<1> Crosby, Tony, Garwood, Adam and Corder-Birch, Adrian, 2006, Industrial Housing In Essex, An archaeological, architectural and historic appraisal of housing provided by Industry (DESC TEXT). SEX65399.

<2> Smith, Joanna, 2007, East Tilbury, Essex - Historic Area Appraisal, mentioned in appraisal (DESC TEXT). SEX70042.

Monument Types

• SEMI DETACHED HOUSE (1930-33, Early 20th Century to Mid 20th Century - 1930 AD to 1933 AD)
• WORKERS COTTAGE (Mid 20th Century - 1933 AD to 1933 AD)

Associated Events

• Industrial Housing In Essex, An Archaeological, Architectural and Historical Survey and appraisal of housing provided by Industry. (Ref: ?)

Protected Status

• Historic Environment Character Zone: Thames Gateway 111_7
• Historic Environment Character Area: Thames Gateway 111
• Conservation Area: East Tilbury
• Listed Building (EH) (II) 1224055: 4 and 6 Bata Avenue

Sources and further reading

Related records

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