,transcriber's ,note ,italic text displayed as3 italic ,bold text displayed as3 bold ,,port ,,sunlight ,illustration3 ,person sitting under a tree with a church in the background ,illustration3 ,,port ,,sunlight ,a ,,record ,,of ,,its ,,artistic ,,pictorial ,,aspect ,,by ,t,,raffles ,,davison ,,hon4 ,a,r,i,b,a ,,london ,b,t,,batsford ,l,,td #id ,,high ,,holborn ,,preface4 ,everyone has heard of ,port ,sunlight1 but it is doubtful whether many have formed a definite or just estimate of this unique example of industrial housing4 ,the following pages are an attempt to record its best features and to show how far the ideal which inspired it has succeeded4 ,to those who have not seen it ,port ,sunlight is perhaps regarded as one of many other similar places4 ,it is in reality something very different from all others1 and especially does it stand by itself in the motive which founded it1 which has carried it out1 and which continues to administrate it4 ,the breadth of vision which has made ,port ,sunlight possible is perhaps a greater matter than the village itself4 ,this must inevitably have its effect1 but the author ventures to predict that the artistic aspect of the place1 which receives some permanent record herein1 may also obtain full recognition and emulation as time goes on4 ,those who look for finality in any human accomplishment are doomed to disappointment1 but the measure of our success will surely be in proportion to the quality of our aims4 ,the last and best word we can say about the village of ,port ,sunlight is that the aim of its founder has been based on the belief that sympathy for the wants and well-being of our fellow-men may find a large expression even in our business dealings4 ,it is very delightful to contemplate the results of an undertaking like ,port ,sunlight--a beneficent enterprise which no law could force from any public body or private employer1 and which no mere compiler of accounts for capital and interest would dare to sanction4 ,the ideal which prompted it is the real thing that matters1 and though it may be maintained that the carrying out of it pays--and pays well--we may still hold fast to the hope that both those who make such villages and those who live in them will ever cherish some beliefs which are above and beyond all that which is concerned with a mere monetary return4 ,how fortunate the workpeople who are enabled to live under such ideal conditions6 ,this little book is entirely due to the desire of the author himself to illustrate the results of an enterprise which he has closely followed from its inception4 ,the combination of the practical and the artistic has been achieved in ,port ,sunlight with outstanding success1 and in these pages it is believed that this is fairly shown1 though the building record is not yet by any means complete4 ,it would be the merest affectation to leave out of these pages any mention of the founder1 ,sir ,william ,hesketh ,lever1 ,bart41 one of the leaders of industrial enterprise in this country4 ,amongst the many things he has done for the benefit of his fellow-countrymen there is surely nothing we have more to thank him for than the homes which are the subject of this book4 ,to provide employment for thousands and then to give them such homes to live in must be a good reward for a life's work to the man with an ideal4 ,my thanks are due to ,mr4 ,herbert ,batsford1 the head of his firm1 who has not only superintended every detail connected with the production but has added personal interest and advice due to his special sympathy with the subject4 ,to ,mr4 ,alex4 ,paul1 of the ,editorial and ,social ,department1 ,port ,sunlight1 ,i am indebted for much kind help4 ,the photographic views are largely from the studio of ,mr4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,davies1 ,new ,ferry4 ,t4 ,,raffles ,,davison4 ,,london1 ,august1 #aiaf4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,preface vii ,,contents ix ,,list ,,of ,,plates xi ,,list ,,of ,,text ,,illustrations xiii ,,the ,,ideal #a ,,the ,,foundation #e ,,the ,,result #h ,,characteristics #aj ,,the ,,plan #af ,,general ,,scheme #bj ,,tree ,,planting #bc ,,cottage ,,plans #be ,,the ,,illustrations #ca ,,list ,,of ,,plates4 ,,plate ,,architects' ,,names #a4 ,birdseye ,view of ,port ,sunlight4 #b4 ,the ,diamond1 looking towards ,art ,gallery4 #c4 ,greendale ,road1 looking towards ,post ,office4 #d4 ,westward ,view of ,park ,road1 showing ,kitchen ,cottages ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #e4 ,view in ,park ,road towards the ,lyceum ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #f4 ,south ,side of ,park ,road4 #g4 ,greendale ,road and ,co-,partners' ,club ,annexe ,grayson and ,ould #h4 ,new ,chester ,road ,huon ,a4 ,matear #i4 ,cottages in ,bath ,street ,j4 ,j4 ,talbot #aj4 ,the ,dell4 #aa4 ,semi-,quad of ,cottages1 ,queen ,mary's ,drive1 ,the ,diamond ,j4 ,l4 ,simpson #ab4 ,park ,road4 ,bridge ,cottage in ,foreground ,douglas and ,fordham #ac4 ,the ,causeway1 looking towards ,corner ,cottage by ,christ ,church ,grayson and ,ould #ad4 ,park ,road ,cottages4 ,lyceum in distance ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #ae4 ,greendale ,road4 ,cottage ,group in foreground1 reproducing ,kenyon ,old ,hall ,j4 ,j4 ,talbot #af4 ,houses in ,park ,road4 ,south ,side ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #ag4 ,lever ,free ,library1 ,greendale ,road ,maxwell and ,tuke #ah4 ,a ,bridge ,street ,group ,grayson and ,ould #ai4 ,post ,office ,grayson and ,ould #bj4 ,group of ,cottages in ,greendale ,road1 reproducing design of ,kenyon ,old ,hall ,j4 ,j4 ,talbot #ba4 ,bolton ,road ,parlour ,houses ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #bb4 ,primrose ,hill ,cottages ,jonathan ,simpson ,greendale ,road ,cottages ,pain and ,blease #bc4 ,greendale ,road ,cottages ,grayson and ,ould ,cottage ,porch1 ,connolly ,road ,huon ,a4 ,matear #bd4 ,the ,bridge ,inn ,grayson and ,ould #be4 ,co-,partners' ,club ,hall ,grayson and ,ould #bf4 ,open ,air ,swimming ,bath ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #bg4 ,a ,recessed ,group in ,cross ,street ,grayson and ,ould #bh4 ,cottage in ,wood ,street ,douglas and ,fordham #bi4 ,the ,library ,entrance of the ,art ,gallery ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #cj4 ,s4,e4 ,view of ,christ ,church ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #ca4 ,view under ,tower1 ,christ ,church ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #cb4 ,lady ,lever ,memorial ,porch1 ,christ ,church ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen ,w4 and ,s4 ,owen #cc4 ,the ,lady ,lever ,memorial ,sir ,w4 ,goscombe ,john1 ,r4,a41 ,sculptor ,,list ,,of ,,text ,,illustrations4 ,,number ,,page #a4 ,the ,lyceum #a #b4 ,the ,dell ,bridge #b #c4 ,corniche ,road before ,reclaiming of ,ravine #c #d4 ,pool ,bank #c #e4 ,tennis ,lawn #d #f4 ,christ ,church from ,bolton ,road #d #g4 ,bolton ,road1 looking towards ,bebington ,church #e #h4 ,co-,partners' ,club and ,bowling ,green #f #i4 ,carved ,oak and ,decorative ,plaster ,work on ,cottage in ,park ,road ,south #g #aj4 ,half-timber ,cottages in ,park ,road #h #aa4 ,employees' ,provident ,stores and ,collegium #i #ab4 ,cottages in ,corniche ,road #aj #ac4 ,an ,angle ,bay in ,bridge ,street #aj #ad4 ,some ,park ,road ,houses #aa #ae4 ,cottages in ,new ,chester ,road #ab #af4 ,group at angle of ,lower ,road and ,central ,road #ac #ag4 ,a ,recessed ,group in ,greendale ,road #ad #ah4 ,cottages on semi-circular plan in ,lower ,road #ad #ai4 ,first ,cottages built at ,port ,sunlight #ae #bj4 ,a ,three-gabled ,group in ,new ,chester ,road #ae #ba4 ,a ,picturesque ,corner in ,park ,road ,south #af #bb4 ,bebington ,road ,cottages #ag #bc4 ,cottages1 ,pool ,bank #ah #bd4 ,cottages1 ,pool ,bank #ai #be4 ,hulme ,hall #bj #bf4 ,gladstone ,hall #ba #bg4 ,park ,road by ,poets' ,corner #bb #bh4 ,bridge ,cottage #bc #bi4 ,the ,gymnasium #bd #cj4 ,the ,technical ,institute #be #ca4 ,wood ,street ,cottages #bf #cb4 ,a ,garden ,corner #bg #cc4 ,plans of ,kitchen ,cottages #bh #cd4 ,plans of ,parlour ,cottages #bi #ce4 ,plans of ,kitchen ,cottages #cj #cf4 ,the ,bridge ,inn #ca #cg4 ,the ,girls' ,club #cb #ch4 ,an ,example of ,simple ,treatment #ce #ci4 ,a ,general ,plan of the ,village #cf ,illustration3 ,,plate #a4 ,,birdseye ,,view ,,of ,,port ,,sunlight4 ,illustration3 ,,douglas ,,and ,,fordham1 ,architects4 #a4 ,,the ,,lyceum4 ,the ,ideal4 ,the individual or community which has no ideal is to be pitied4 ,for1 whatever may happen1 there is always a better chance for those who maintain a high ideal than for those who1 without one1 adventure themselves against the chances and difficulties that surround us4 ,nothing is more disheartening to the idealist and reformer than to find not only thousands of individuals but whole communities without a guiding star of faith and hope4 ,how fortunate is a place like ,port ,sunlight1 when we compare its history and possibilities with those of ,london6 ,it is pleasant to realise that what has become a problem of such a very serious kind in ,london after so many years of haphazard and chance1 is happily barred out of the horizon in the definitely schemed plan of the garden city or the model village4 ,but it is one thing to have a scheme or an ideal and another to have a good one4 ,moreover1 as to whether it is good or bad1 or wholly or only partially good or bad1 the scheme does not always show until it has been some time in operation4 ,in time the awkward corners may be rounded off1 or they may become more acute1 but the actual life of the community in any so-called model village or town soon proves the value or the unimportance of those features which have been part of the design4 ,illustration3 ,,douglas ,,and ,,fordham1 ,architects4 #b4 ,,the ,,dell ,,bridge4 ,what most impresses itself on those who study the industrial village of ,port ,sunlight is the fact that it is the definite outcome of a genuine ideal4 ,whether its present state has surpassed the hopes of its founder or has failed to realise them1 we can at any rate see that this was meant to be something better than what had been before1 and that no effort was to be wanting to secure this4 ,we are sure that the inconsequent charm and the haphazard picturesqueness of an old ,english village were not the main objects in view1 but that the aim was a conveniently planned and healthy settlement laid out with all possible artistic thought on sound business lines4 ,garden grounds1 roads1 and open spaces were to be ample without being wasteful1 houses were to be picturesque but sensibly planned4 ,avenues were to be planted and gardens laid out with needful limitations as to size and direction4 ,the individuality of separate gardens was to be subordinated to a definite idea of communal amenity4 ,variety of plan was to be obtained only within a certain economic range4 ,illustration3 #c4 ,,corniche ,,road ,,before ,,reclaiming ,,of ,,ravine4 ,illustration3 #d4 ,,pool ,,bank4 ,it is surely often realised that many of our beautiful gardens could not have been laid out in a complete and detailed scheme from the beginning1 but that a good deal of their success has been evolved from a gradual development of possibilities4 ,so also whilst the picturesque charm of an old town or village may result from the chances and changes of many years1 we cannot expect that fully developed schemes for new settlements can attain perfection at the outset4 ,the constant maintenance of an ideal in the life of a town or village is1 therefore1 of the greatest import1 and no niggardly spirit should stand in the way of changes for which time alone may prove the need4 ,illustration3 #e4 ,,tennis ,,lawn4 ,the best conceived plans for the present time are not necessarily the best for the future1 and an insistent look out for possible improvements is the only safeguard for the future even where the most careful design and thought have been devoted to the beginnings of such a successful enterprise as that which is here recorded4 ,illustration3 #f4 ,,christ ,,church ,,from ,,bolton ,,road4 ,illustration3 #g4 ,,bolton ,,road ,,looking ,,towards ,,bebington ,,church4 ,the ,foundation4 ,the life of a village or town must be created of enduring materials and based on some sort of sound business principles4 ,it is the very essence of the village of ,port ,sunlight that it is claimed to be a sound business enterprise4 ,though much more than half a million pounds of capital spent on land and buildings has been left out of count for interest1 it is still maintained that all outlays have in the main been justified by sound business principles4 ,that the well-being and comfort of their workpeople is a valuable business asset is no new belief with employers of labour4 ,the belief has been acted upon for many years past1 but its application has made rapid strides in more recent times4 ,it is probable1 however1 that there is not another place where this belief has been so very completely demonstrated as at ,port ,sunlight4 ,the inhabitants of this fortunate village appear to have been saved every needless risk1 and have even escaped the snare of mere profit-sharing1 in favour of prosperity-sharing and copartnership4 ,it will be of interest here to quote from a ,paper by the founder1 ,sir ,w4 ,h4 ,lever1 on prosperity-sharing1 in ,november1 #aijj4 8,the truest and highest form of enlightened self-interest requires that we pay the fullest regard to the interest and welfare of those around us1 whose well-being we must bind up with our own1 and with whom we must share our prosperity4 ,we cannot live in comfort with others if we do not share our comforts with them4 ,if we wish men to be honest towards ourselves1 we must be honest with them4 ,if we wish men to help us to achieve prosperity1 they must feel assured that we will share that prosperity with them4 ,if capital and management think of nothing but their own narrowest1 selfish self-interest1 without a thought for labour1 care nothing for the comfort or welfare of labour1 care nothing whether labour is well or ill-housed1 whether labour is provided with opportunity for reasonable and proper recreation and relief from toil or not1 then capital and management are blind to their own highest interest4444 ,also the converse of the above is equally true4444 ,if labour adopts the spirit of enlightened and intelligent self-interest1 and if capital and management do the same1 if each recognise the principle that by looking after the interests of the other they are taking the surest means to achieve their own self-interest1 business will be healthier1 happiness in business will be greater1 the prosperity of the business of the whole country will be assured1 and the bogey of foreign competition will be laid once and for all4 ,i venture to submit that prosperity-sharing on the basis of enlightened self-interest will secure this40 ,illustration3 ,,grayson ,,and ,,ould1 ,architects4 #h4 ,,co-,,partners' ,,club ,,and ,,bowling ,,green4 ,illustration3 #i4 ,,carved ,,oak ,,and ,,decorative ,,plaster ,,work ,,on ,,cottage ,,in ,,park ,,road ,,south4 ,w4 ,,owen1 ,architect4 ,it is the aim which lies behind such words as these which is of real importance1 and makes possible the creation of beautiful homes and pleasant surroundings4 ,we may be quite sure that this is the one vital factor in all our efforts1 and no excuse need be offered for the reiteration of this point in the pages of this book4 ,we should all live for some sort of ideals1 and in proportion as these are right and good1 so shall we find the measure of our success4 ,illustration3 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 #aj4 ,,half-,,timber ,,cottages ,,in ,,park ,,road4 ,the ,result4 ,it is only by comparing the conditions at ,port ,sunlight with those of other residential areas that the full measure of their value can be ascertained4 ,in some respects the outsider is perhaps a better judge of the success of such a village than are the residents1 who come to take a good deal for granted4 ,thus the visitor who now for the first time goes to ,port ,sunlight and realises the extent and quality of the work done is naturally much impressed by the variety and interest which the whole village affords1 whilst those who are in constant residence may not realise it so keenly4 ,it is hardly possible that those who live in the many charming cottages which have sprung up in this country in recent years1 or who have lived a long time in some of the best of our old ,english cottages1 can take that delight in their appearance which the detached observer feels4 ,it is quite possible that wide staring panes of glass and sash windows and treeless streets have as many admirers amongst the average public as are found for the quaint latticed windows and leafy avenues of ,port ,sunlight4 ,but the air of detachment which inevitably goes with the outside observer of new places is an element of some moment in arriving at an estimate of results4 ,it is obvious that the estimation of a place like this may be based upon practical issues chiefly1 or from the purely artistic standpoint1 or again1 from a point of view which includes both4 ,the main concern of this book is to emphasise the artistic and picturesque qualities of the village whilst not overlooking the fact that artistic values should not be obtained by the sacrifice of practical needs4 ,this could be the only possible point of view which would give final satisfaction to the business man4 ,it is maintained that no undertaking in the world which has been based on purely artistic desires and which has had no basis of practical value has been of any lasting value4 ,the whole foundation of ,port ,sunlight is believed to consist of practical values and sound business principles4 ,illustration3 #aa4 ,,employees' ,,provident ,,stores ,,and ,,collegium4 ,,douglas ,,and ,,fordham1 ,architects4 ,illustration3 #ab4 ,,cottages ,,in ,,corniche ,,road4 ,,grayson ,,and ,,ould1 ,architects4 ,illustration3 #ac4 ,,an ,,angle ,,bay ,,in ,,bridge ,,street4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,characteristics4 ,one thing which is at once obvious from the general scheme is the adoption of open spaces1 communal gardens1 and allotments in preference to the spaces which are devoted to individual gardens surrounding each cottage in so many other places4 ,there is something to be said for and against this4 ,the general amenity of the village gains by the ,port ,sunlight method1 whilst the special charm of individual gardens which enthusiastic efforts produce is naturally lacking4 ,in this way we get less value of contrasts1 and lose something of that spirit of emulation which spurs the individual to special effort4 ,of one thing1 however1 there can be no doubt4 ,the absence of the many dividing lines of fences between each cottage frontage produces a breadth of effect along the lines of roadways which is in itself very pleasing4 ,from the point of view of the town-planner who looks for the collective result this is1 of course1 very satisfactory4 ,illustration3 #ad4 ,,some ,,park ,,road ,,houses4 ,,douglas ,,and ,,fordham1 ,architects4 ,illustration3 #ae4 ,,cottages ,,in ,,new ,,chester ,,road4 ,w4 ,,owen1 ,architect4 ,another thing which will be noticed in the illustrations is the elevation of many of the houses above the level of the roadway4 ,this gives a much wider and pleasanter outlook from the windows of the cottages1 besides producing a much better effect in the buildings from the roadway than when they are placed on the same level4 ,the sloping green banks leading up to terraced paths in front of the cottages are a distinctive feature of the village4 7,see ,pl4 #d47 ,it has been maintained that without a good deal of monotony you cannot get very fine architectural results1 and it must be admitted that many examples go to prove it4 ,there is a large surface of monotony in the ,pyramids2 there is a marvellous monotony of detail in the ,houses of ,parliament2 there is a boundless monotony in the house fronts in ,gower ,street1 yet all these have been admired4 ,so this line of argument might have suggested the continued employment of only one architect1 or at least only one type of design1 for the cottages at ,port ,sunlight4 ,the great variety of designs in the cottages1 which has proved one of the attractions of the place1 has1 however1 in some sense at least1 justified itself4 ,even the flamboyant ,gothic dormers and the stepped ,belgian gables have a reacting influence on some of their neighbours1 though we might consider the latter rather unpractical on the one hand1 or the former too pretentious on the other4 ,moreover1 whilst we wonder at the generosity of view which could bestow some of these solid oak-framed structures with their wealth of carving and enriched plaster panellings on the working classes of an industrial village1 we cannot but feel grateful to the hand that gave them1 though we ourselves may never be able to afford such luxuries of the building art for ourselves4 ,may we not accept these as symbols of some kindly gratitude with which a profitable company decorates the homes of its industrial population8 ,honestly1 we cannot regret these bonnes bouches in the building scheme1 though they bravely put out of sight the counting-house and the rates of interest6 ,these are really very welcome ebullitions from that solid undercurrent of practical economy which has placed the whole concern on a sound business footing4 ,illustration3 #af4 ,,group ,,at ,,angle ,,of ,,lower ,,road ,,and ,,central ,,road4 ,j4 ,l4 ,,simpson1 ,architect4 ,illustration3 #ag4 ,a ,,recessed ,,group ,,in ,,greendale ,,road4 ,,ernest ,,george ,,and ,,yeates1 ,architects4 ,illustration3 #ah4 ,,cottages ,,on ,,semi-,,circular ,,plan ,,in ,,lower ,,road4 ,c4 ,h4 ,,reilly1 ,architect4 ,illustration3 #ai4 ,,first ,,cottages ,,built ,,at ,,port ,,sunlight4 ,awarded ,grand ,prix1 ,brussels ,exhibition1 #aiaj1 for their reproduction there4 ,w4 ,,owen1 ,architect4 ,illustration3 #bj4 ,a ,,three-,,gabled ,,group ,,in ,,new ,,chester ,,road4 ,,grayson ,,and ,,ould1 ,architects4 ,this element of variety which is so marked in the design of the cottages at ,port ,sunlight has been obtained without much departure from the genuine ,english type4 ,even where a ,dutch or ,belgian character appears it is carried out with something of the breadth and simplicity which one associates with purely ,english work4 ,there is very little1 if anything1 that could be called freakish or odd4 ,the stepped gables or the flamboyant dormers which vary the treatment are not unacceptable as variants4 ,as to the use of oak framing with plaster panels--the familiar ,old ,english style--no one can deny its charm or fail to wish there were even more of it4 ,nothing is so picturesque and nothing so cheerful of aspect as the black and white work which forms so frequent a feature in the earlier buildings erected4 ,one only regrets that it is difficult to justify it from a strictly commercial point of view1 especially if it is executed in a sound and substantial manner4 ,whether the half-timber work is used for the whole building1 or only partially in connection with the fine red sandstone of the district1 or with bricks or flint-work1 it has an undeniable and enduring charm1 and we owe much of our pleasure in the whole appearance of ,port ,sunlight to the liberal views of the founder1 who did not permit his vision of a beautiful village to be obscured by the clouds of philistinism6 ,you cannot1 of course1 pretend that such gables as those shown in our illustrations are necessary to cottage building4 ,nor is it surely possible for even a ,port ,sunlight to be entirely built in such a way2 but the pleasure produced by such character of work is1 after all1 common property1 and is a valuable item in regard to the whole scheme4 ,illustration3 #ba4 ,a ,,picturesque ,,corner ,,in ,,park ,,road ,,south4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,the ,plan4 ,the general plan of ,port ,sunlight shows now an inhabited area nearly a mile long by nearly half that wide1 bounded on the longer sides by the new ,chester ,road 7on the east7 and the main railway lines to ,london1 and ,greendale ,road 7on the west74 7,see ,no4 #ci47 ,there is enough variety of level to avoid the monotony of an entirely flat area1 and one piece of natural dell1 well grown over with trees and shrubs1 forms a delightful feature near the ,works end of the village4 ,goods from the ,works are loaded1 on the one side1 into railway wagons1 and on the other into barges on the ,bromborough ,pool1 from which they emerge into the ,river ,mersey4 ,from this pool there used to be gutters or ravines1 up which the muddy tidal water flowed right up into where the village now stands1 but these have all been cut off from the tide and1 with the exception of the dell above referred to1 filled up4 ,illustration3 #bb4 ,,bebington ,,road ,,cottages4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,one very notable innovation on the common practice of estate development is the fronting of houses towards the railway instead of the long lines of unlovely backs which usually exhibit all their unhappy privacies to the railway passengers4 ,though one long thoroughfare--the ,greendale ,road--runs alongside the railway embankment for the greater part of a mile1 one cannot feel it to be other than one of the pleasantest roads on the estate4 ,one of the illustrations indicates the excellent result here obtained4 ,illustration3 #bc4 ,,cottages1 ,,pool ,,bank4 ,,wilson ,,and ,,talbot1 ,architects4 ,every intelligent student of town-planning knows that you cannot rule out a number of rectangular plots arranged on axial lines without due consideration of varying levels and a proper expression of local features4 ,moreover1 the planning of many right-angled plots is not in itself a very desirable aim4 ,but at ,port ,sunlight it was possible to create some rectangular spaces with the ,art ,gallery and the ,church on their axial lines in such a way as to make a striking and orderly scheme as a central feature in the estate4 ,there are numbers of winding or diagonal roads which give variety and interest and afford pleasant lines of perspective to the groups of houses4 ,illustration3 #bd4 ,,cottages1 ,,pool ,,bank4 ,,douglas ,,and ,,minshall1 ,architects4 ,in an especial way one might claim that the best results in the planning of a new village will be obtained through bearing in mind the classical saying1 8,ars est celare artem40 ,in such a scheme we do not wish to be confronted with buildings of ponderous dignity or a big display of formal lines and places4 ,anything approaching ostentation or display is surely out of place1 and what we want is something expressing the simplicity and unobtrusiveness which is the tradition handed down to us through the charm of the old ,english village4 ,this is best attained by variety in direction of roads and shapes of houses by forming unexpected corners1 recessed spaces1 and winding vistas4 ,illustration3 #be4 ,,hulme ,,hall4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,general ,scheme4 ,port ,sunlight village 7founded in #ahhh71 apart from the ,works1 covers #bbb acres1 on which the houses may approach #b1jjj for a population of #aj1jjj4 ,the tenancies of the houses are limited to employs of the ,works4 ,already over #a1jjj houses have been built or are in process of building1 and the length of broad roadways exceeds five miles4 ,the first block of cottages built in #ahhh-ahhi was reproduced at the ,brussels ,exhibition of #aiaj1 and was awarded the ,grand ,prix4 ,it is intended to limit the number of cottages to ten per acre1 and it is hoped to keep below that maximum4 ,illustration3 #bf4 ,,gladstone ,,hall4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,the general width of the roadways is #dj feet1 giving #bd feet to the road1 and #h feet for each footpath2 but there are roads #dh feet wide1 including footpaths4 ,the paths are flagged along the central portion only4 ,in a progressive world1 and especially in such a progressive part of it as ,port ,sunlight1 one cannot hope to give a record which will for long represent existing facts4 ,the arrangements which have been made for the benefit of the inhabitants of this village have necessarily been altered or modified4 ,at the present time the buildings for general use include ,christ ,church 7,no4 #f and ,pls4 #ca-cc71 an admirable ,late ,gothic building in a central position1 the ,schools1 which accommodate about #a1fjj children1 a ,lyceum1 a ,cottage ,hospital1 a ,gymnasium 7,no4 #bi71 an open-air ,swimming ,bath 7,pl4 #bf71 ,post ,office 7,pl4 #ai71 a ,village ,inn 7,no4 #cf and ,pl4 #bd71 ,village ,stores1 a ,fire ,station1 the ,auditorium1 to seat #c1jjj1 the ,collegium 7,no4 #aa71 the ,gladstone ,hall 7,no4 #bf71 the ,hulme ,hall 7,no4 #be71 ,co-,partners' ,club with billiard rooms and bowling green 7,no4 #h71 a ,village ,fountain1 and1 finally1 the ,hulme ,art ,gallery 7,pl4 #bi71 which is destined to hold the ,public ,library as well as fine collections of ,pictures1 ,pottery1 and ,furniture4 ,illustration3 #bg4 ,,park ,,road ,,by ,,poets' ,,corner4 ,port ,sunlight has been an object of attraction to visitors for years1 and this is not only due to the interest and variety of its cottage houses1 and as a model for town planners the world over1 but to the whole-hearted endeavour to meet all the practical and social needs of everyday life which is expressed in its various public buildings4 ,but another source of great and enduring attraction lies in its ,art ,gallery4 ,here it outdistances every other village of the kind1 for this ,art ,gallery holds no fortuitous collection of odd things1 but carefully chosen examples of fine art got together by expert knowledge4 ,the pictures1 china1 furniture1 etc41 would alone bring many visitors to study such a superb and finely-housed collection of works of art4 ,illustration3 #bh4 ,,bridge ,,cottage4 ,,douglas ,,and ,,fordham1 ,architects4 ,tree ,planting4 ,we are apt to forget that a newly created village or town does not reap all its benefits at once4 ,not only as regards the results of growth in trees and shrubs1 the development of gardens1 and the mellowing influences of time and tone1 but also in relation to all the amenities of social life1 we must wait for those influences which can only come in a gradual process4 ,the subject of trees alone1 of the best method to deal with living growth1 is not finished with for some time1 if ever4 ,some of the avenues at ,port ,sunlight are charming now1 and show an admirable balance of effect between trees and buildings4 ,down the avenue of poplars one of our sketches 7,pl4 #c7 shows how delightfully the ,club and the ,library peep out1 and how well the vista leads up to the ,post ,office beyond--so in some of the winding roads the effect even in summer is just right4 ,but trees keep growing1 and unless the houses are to suffer they will have to be cut down and some removed entirely4 ,then1 again1 the ,diamond 7,pl4 #b7 7which in spite of its name is a great oblong open space71 bordered by groups of cottages and bounded at one end by the new ,art ,gallery1 will very well bear all the height the trees will ever reach4 ,this is a very fine open space1 and borders of big trees will help1 and never belittle it4 ,possibly the secret of successful planting amongst cottage houses is to have plenty of slow-growing evergreens1 and forest trees only at intervals4 ,it is quite certain that if the garden spaces at ,port ,sunlight were punctuated with decoratively placed evergreens1 and inclosed by living borders of box or yew1 the result would be both pleasing and long-lasting4 ,the open spaces now secured should make for ever pleasant oases amongst the long lines of houses1 and even if all the tree avenues had to go1 there would still be left much to excite the envy of those who have to live in our dirty old towns4 ,illustration3 #bi4 ,,the ,,gymnasium4 ,w4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,architects4 ,one of our sketches shows the avenue which leads to ,christ ,church from ,greendale ,road 7,pl4 #ac74 ,it is obvious that the sturdy breadth and dignity of the church will never lose anything1 however lofty the avenue becomes4 ,unfortunately we cannot afford the space in the thoroughfares for the trees so that they will not be a trouble to the buildings some day4 ,the only possible way would be to plant them down the centre of the roads1 so keeping the traffic in the two opposite directions in its right place4 ,this is a counsel of perfection1 but it has been done where wide road spaces were practicable4 ,illustration3 #cj4 ,,the ,,technical ,,institute4 ,j4 ,j4 ,,talbot1 ,architect4 ,it will be noted that at either side of the ,diamond the land round and between the houses is bordered by a low wall through which steps lead up to the pathways4 ,the effect is very pleasing and might be repeated in other cases with advantage4 ,illustration3 #ca4 ,,wood ,,street ,,cottages4 ,cottage ,plans4 ,an evidence of the careful economic spirit which has guided the whole enterprise may be found in the plans of the buildings at ,port ,sunlight4 ,there are here no freaks or features created simply for picturesque effect1 nor any serious attempt to give the occupants something they do not want4 ,it will probably be a long time before any great reform in cottage planning can be maintained in face of the varying views of the tenants4 ,thus the rooms must be big enough1 but they must not be so large as to cause needless work4 ,the better class cottages must have parlours1 and only those who cannot afford them will go without4 ,plaster walls seem to be almost always preferred to those lined with boarding1 white-washed bricks1 or any other healthy or artistic departure from the modern ,british type4 ,thus we find that the compact and economic plans in the village are what give the most universal satisfaction4 ,but in the scheme of the planning the juxtaposition of the cottages has been dealt with in a free and varied manner1 so that we find rows of houses1 or ,l-shaped blocks1 or semi-quads1 or curved frontages1 or semi-splayed quads4 ,a census of opinion would probably be all in favour of straight rows1 and have been dead against the judicious variety which gives so much interest to the place4 ,theoretically1 one would perhaps like those who live in cottages to give up the fetish of the parlour and have one really ample living-room instead4 ,but the inherent yearning for privacy is an ,english characteristic which closes the door of domestic affairs from the casual visitor4 ,moreover1 the sin of affectation creeps into all our buildings1 and thus the cottage apes the little villa1 the little villa apes the large one1 the large one apes the mansion1 and the mansion apes the palace4 ,illustration3 #cb4 ,a ,,garden ,,corner4 ,the cottage reformer would of course say that the cottage tenant would be far happier and healthier as a rule without a parlour1 for then he would have a fine living-room which might be free of all incumbrances and free of draughts4 ,but it has to be taken for granted that most who can afford parlours prefer to have them2 therefore the plans are of two types1 the kitchen cottage and the parlour cottage4 ,our illustrations show how these are planned1 and it is not of little interest to see how varied may be the exterior treatment as developed from these plans4 ,illustration3 ,j4 ,j4 ,,talbot ,,architect #cc4 ,,kitchen ,,cottages4 ,some of the plans which have been found successful we give illustrations of4 ,these 7,nos4 #cc-ce7 are carefully schemed4 ,there is a bath in each and three bedrooms1 each with a fireplace4 ,the ,w4,c4's are entered from outside4 ,the parlour cottage plan is also given4 ,it shows what a fine living-room might be obtained in a scheme which eliminated the parlour4 ,it is obvious that the question of cost is more or less elusive4 ,the original cost of the smaller cottages was #bjj1 and of the parlour cottages #ccj to #cej1 but this has risen now to #ccj for cottages and #eej for parlour houses4 ,at the present time the gross rentals of the kitchen cottages average now #fs4 #c;d4 each1 whilst for the parlour cottages the rent would be #gs4 #f;d41 excluding rates and taxes4#a ,in any estimate of the value of ,port ,sunlight as a housing scheme it must always be remembered1 as ,mr4 ,w4 ,l4 ,george has pointed out1 that it is an experiment rather in ideal than in cheap housing4 ,this question of ideal was the first point referred to in this record4 ,that it has been largely realised and entirely justified is something for which its founder must feel profoundly glad4 ,all sorts of economies and precautions might have been adopted which have been boldly and generously set aside4 ,the ideal was always kept in view1 and if it ever disappears it will be only after the disappearance of the original founder himself6 ,it is a pleasant task to gather together in this little book the evidence of belief that a more real partnership between capitalist and workpeople would work a lasting good4 ,that good is not to be measured in a notation of gold1 nor even amongst those who live and thrive under the immediate benefits of ,port ,sunlight4 ,its influence goes round the world like the beneficent rays which are symbolised in its own expressive title4 ,illustration3 #cd4 ,,parlour ,,cottages4 ,illustration3 #ce4 ,,kitchen ,,cottages4 ,many of those who scan these pages will never see ,port ,sunlight itself1 and so will not realise how much better is the reality than the printed page4 ,in judging the results it must never be forgotten that the saving grace of common sense has been a constant guide in its ultimate development and expression4 ,no one could pretend that these thousand cottages form the finest possible aggregate of architectural skill in individual design or co-ordinated effect4 ,here and there one finds perhaps an exaggeration of simplicity on the one hand or of richness on the other2 in some cases the restraint may be a little obvious or the picturesqueness a little overstrained1 but the balance of effect is that of a well-ordered and varied interest4 ,to realise the value of ,port ,sunlight as an industrial village one has only to compare it with other enterprises4 ,the architect can read clearly enough from it many lessons in design1 a few of what to avoid perhaps1 but many that he may emulate4 ,the social reformer sees an object lesson in the value of a pleasant and well-planned community of houses in which individuality is left ample freedom of expression4 ,the projector of industrial enterprise realises the mutual benefits of good and attractive housing4 ,little1 if anything1 in this country can be compared to it in its general measure of success4 ,this success should act as a stimulus to an ever-widening effort to make the improved conditions of daily life one of the definite aims of industrial enterprise generally4 ,illustration3 #cf4 ,,the ,,bridge ,,inn4 ,,grayson ,,and ,,ould1 ,architects4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,these are prosperity-sharing rents 7see remarks as to interest on capital written off1 p4 #e74 ,illustration3 #cg4 ,,the ,,girls' ,,club4 ,j4 ,l4 ,,simpson1 ,architect4 ,the ,illustrations4 ,the full-page ,plates #c to #bg give an idea of the road views and the relation of the houses to them1 with their perspective effects in straight or winding lines of frontage1 with quadrangular recesses as in ,pls4 #aa and #bj1 or where the ,l-shaped blocks of cottages leave a good open space as in ,pl4 #i4 ,the sturdy tower of ,christ ,church is a telling feature at the end of the ,causeway 7see ,pl4 #ac71 and the picturesque pavilion roof with its clever tiling makes a telling feature at the junction of the ,causeway with ,greendale ,road4 ,it is hard to imagine anything more delightful in the early spring or autumn than the ,greendale ,road where it approaches the post office1 with the peeps of the buildings through the tall poplars4 ,the view towards the post office in both directions 7,pls4 #c and #g7 are equally pleasing4 ,nothing shows better the good qualities of an ,old ,english half-timber building than such a setting4 ,there is hardly anything in the village which comes back on one with such recurring charm as the row of five gables in the ,park ,road cottages shown in ,pls4 #e and #ad4 ,in ,pl4 #e we see something of the delightful result of the continuous sloping banks from the road up to the cottage1 and a certain picturesque irregularity where the old hawthorn bushes which formerly existed have been left at intervals4 ,this vertical timber framing has a simple breadth of effect which is well shown in ,pls4 #d1 #e1 and #ad4 ,it would be difficult to do justice to ,greendale ,road with its continuous line of #ig cottages1 which form a picture of great variety and interest as viewed from the passing trains1 and give us a long perspective of trees and houses1 broken at the point of view of our sketch 7,pl4 #ae7 by the half-timber group of cottages which is an exact replica of the design of ,kenyon ,old ,hall4 ,this delightful group is also shown in ,pl4 #bj4 ,there is nothing more satisfactory in proportion and colour than the recessed group of cottages which fronts the ,diamond in the ,queen ,mary's ,drive4 ,the yellow-grey stone slates1 the red brick chimneys1 the white rough cast1 dark boarding1 and robust half-timber work in the flanking gables1 make up a picture of colour and texture which is most satisfactory 7,pl4 #b74 ,the cottages here have the advantage of a raised terrace bounded by a stone wall4 ,one of the nearest approaches to the charm of an old ,english village is probably the ,l-shaped group of cottages in ,bath ,street 7see ,pl4 #i74 ,a photograph of the ,dell has been taken to show one of the natural features which has been turned to so good an account in the village 7see ,pl4 #aj74 ,the cottages looking over the roadways surrounding the ,dell have delightful outlooks over here4 ,our view was taken in the winter1 so as to show something of the bridge and houses4 ,the stone bridge at the end of the ,dell is an excellent architectural feature 7see ,nos4 #a and #b71 and groups with remarkably good result below the ,lyceum buildings4 ,no illustrative account of ,port ,sunlight could be considered complete without some reference to ,christ ,church1 which is a central and interesting feature4 ,its solidly built red stone walls and stone slated roof1 and its finely appointed interior with a wealth of enriched oak timber work1 commands one's attention whether as architect or layman4 ,it speaks of strength and endurance and a sincere love and study of our traditional ,english ,gothic4 ,its value is sufficiently apparent both from the social and the artistic point of view4 ,in one respect1 however1 this church may claim a special distinction1 for at its western end has been erected a richly detailed narthex1 with a vaulted roof1 forming a shrine for a beautiful sculptured memorial to the late ,lady ,lever4 ,both in idea and execution1 this forms a striking and touching memorial to a gracious lady whose kindliness of heart endeared her to all4 ,children were her special friends1 and this is reflected in the two charming figures of children at one end of the sarcophagus4 ,sir ,goscombe ,john1 the sculptor1 has never been more successful than in this tenderly and gracefully modelled reclining figure of ,lady ,lever4 ,this vaulted porch1 with its richly carved bosses 7on one of which are painted the arms of ,sir ,william71 largely enhances the value of the memorial sarcophagus itself1 which is one of the most satisfactory of recent years4 ,the illustration of the interior 7see ,pl4 #cc7 is from a large drawing exhibited by the architect at the ,royal ,academy in #aiaf4 ,our illustrations1 in a general way1 represent what may be taken to be the best examples of design in the village4 ,they do not1 of course1 show all the best4 ,in ,pl4 #bh we have a very good example of the quality of detail which lifts the work at ,port ,sunlight so far above the level of the ordinary speculative cottage building4 ,here we find carved oak beams and posts and brackets and barges1 and an excellent piece of modelled plaster work in the gable4 ,when it is remembered that this is no isolated example1 we see how unusually liberal has been the hand that directed the outlay4 ,corners like the picturesque grouping of chimneys in ,no4 #bh1 or the carved oak and modelled plaster in the corner gable 7,no4 #i71 would not have existed in an industrial village had not the founder been imbued with a keen appreciation of architectural values4 ,one would present a sketch proposal for such a type of cottages with some trepidation to the average building owner6 ,one of the noticeable bits of rich detail is to be found in the ,flamboyant and ,gothic dormers in ,pl4 #bg4 ,we have in ,no4 #cb a delightful corner of half-timber building with a sweet little garden foreground4 ,the old ,cheshire type of half-timber work is tellingly expressed in the corner houses in ,park ,road 7,pl4 #af74 ,other especially effective corners are seen in ,nos4 #aa and #bg4 ,a contrast between ,queen ,anne brick gables and the half-timber house is effectively shown in ,no4 #ba4 ,contrasting again with the richness of carved oak and modelled plaster in the more elaborate buildings1 we come across delightfully simple designs1 such as ,nos4 #ae and #ag1 which may some day very well pass for ancient buildings4 ,amongst the conspicuously successful of recent groups is that of the parlour houses in ,bolton ,road 7,pl4 #ba71 which has the advantage of a good setting on the front of a circular place4 ,this only needs a terrace wall and some formal planting to make it one of the pictures of the village4 ,what an enticing prospect opens up in the possibilities of formal evergreen planting amongst all these cottage homes6 ,it is with some feeling of regret that more sketches have not been given showing examples of interesting ornamental detail which lift the quality of these cottage homes so much above the ordinary level of industrial homes4 ,but the limits of the volume place an inevitable check on one's desires4 ,if the author has been able to convey to his readers a tithe of the pleasure he has felt in the subject of this little book he will be amply rewarded4 ,illustration3 #ch4 ,,an ,,example ,,of ,,simple ,,treatment4 ,enough has perhaps been said in appreciation of some points which mark out the qualities of ,port ,sunlight4 ,much more might be written1 but for the rest we leave the illustrations to tell their own tale4 ,we have shown nothing of the great auditorium which seats #c1jjj people1 or of the detailed appointments of the new ,art ,gallery1 but we have a sketch of the splendid open air swimming pool and our birds-eye view of the ,diamond gives some notion of the pleasant grouping of the homes amongst pleasant open spaces and tree-lined avenues4 ,a great deal of what we do not show is left in reserve for those who can find opportunity to go and see for themselves what this wonderful scheme of industrial housing can teach4 ,illustration3 ,,plan ,,of ,,the ,,village ,,of ,,port ,,sunlight #aiad4 #ci4 ,a ,,general ,,plan ,,of ,,the ,,village4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #b4 ,,the ,,diamond1 ,,looking ,,towards ,,art ,,gallery4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #c4 ,,greendale ,,road1 ,,looking ,,towards ,,post ,,office4 ,,post ,,office4 ,,lever ,,free ,,library4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #d4 ,,westward ,,view ,,of ,,park ,,road1 ,,showing ,,kitchen ,,cottages4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #e4 ,,view ,,in ,,park ,,road ,,towards ,,the ,,lyceum4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #f4 ,,south ,,side ,,of ,,park ,,road4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #g4 ,,greendale ,,road ,,and ,,co-,,partners' ,,club ,,annexe4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #h4 ,,new ,,chester ,,road4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #i4 ,,cottages ,,in ,,bath ,,street4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #aj4 ,,the ,,dell4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #aa4 ,,semi-,,quad ,,of ,,cottages1 ,,queen ,,mary',s ,,drive1 ,,the ,,diamond4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ab4 ,,park ,,road4 ,,bridge ,,cottage ,,in ,,foreground4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ac4 ,,the ,,causeway1 ,,looking ,,towards ,,christ ,,church4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ad4 ,,park ,,road ,,cottages4 ,,lyceum ,,in ,,distance4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ae4 ,,greendale ,,road4 ,,cottage ,,group ,,in ,,foreground1 ,,reproducing ,,kenyon ,,old ,,hall4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #af4 ,,houses ,,in ,,park ,,road4 ,,south ,,side4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ag4 ,,lever ,,free ,,library1 ,,greendale ,,road4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ah4 ,a ,,bridge ,,street ,,group4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ai4 ,,post ,,office4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bj4 ,,group ,,of ,,cottages ,,in ,,greendale ,,road1 ,,reproducing ,,design ,,of ,,kenyon ,,old ,,hall4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ba4 ,,bolton ,,road ,,parlour ,,houses4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bb4 ,,primrose ,,hill ,,cottages4 ,,greendale ,,road ,,cottages4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bc4 ,,greendale ,,road ,,cottages4 ,,cottage ,,porch1 ,,connolly ,,road4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bd4 ,,the ,,bridge ,,inn4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #be4 ,,co-,,partners' ,,club ,,hall4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bf4 ,,open ,,air ,,swimming ,,bath4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bg4 ,a ,,recessed ,,group ,,in ,,cross ,,street4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bh4 ,,cottage ,,in ,,wood ,,street4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #bi4 ,,the ,,library ,,entrance ,,of ,,the ,,art ,,gallery4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #cj4 ,s4,e4 ,,view ,,of ,,christ ,,church4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #ca4 ,,view ,,under ,,tower1 ,,christ ,,church4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #cb4 ,,lady ,,lever ,,memorial ,,porch1 ,,christ ,,church4 ,illustration3 ,,plate #cc4 ,,the ,,lady ,,lever ,,memorial4