Published in Windlesora 08 (1989)
© WLHG
As the name implies the cottages were built under the direction of Albert, Prince Consort in 1855. His practical interest in farming led to many improvements being carried out on the Royal Farms marking one of his greatest contributions to the prosperity of his time. He was a thorough and conscientious man and his farms became models of efficient agriculture and animal husbandry, but in particular of improved living conditions for his farm workers. The houses which he built for his workers on the Royal Estates set an example of model dwellings of the type and his ‘four house block’ design was shown at the Crystal Palace Great Exhibition in 1851.
To further this interest in Windsor he founded in about 1850 the ‘Windsor Royal Association’ under the patronage of the Queen and himself, to promote the improvement of housing in Windsor to a similar standard.
The freehold land for this Estate, nearly 8!/2 acres between the Long Walk and the Barracks, was purchased by the Society from the Department of Woods and Forests for £287.19s.3d. to accommodate about 40 families in two rows of houses facing one another with each having a garden.
The Estate was designed by Henry Roberts, R.S.A. and incorporates the ideas and requirements featured in the Prince Consort’s ‘model cottages’. The Estate is one of the earliest model housing schemes; unique in many respects. The houses were originally set out in five basic blocks, the middle section of the main buildings to the centre of each opposing terrace being to the same plan as Prince Albert’s Exhibition Model Houses, although somewhat increased in scale. Subsequently similar designs were used on other royal estates.
The construction of the cottages themselves incorporated experiments in the use of the ‘large red hollow’ brick later abandoned for the standard red stock brick; the use of hollow bricks, an early form of cavity walling, to counteract damp and moisture, and the extensive use of cement, slate and metal with the minimum of timber as a precaution against fire.
Having chosen the design, Prince Albert took an active interest in their construction, frequently walking from nearby Windsor Castle to watch the builders at work. Many stories are still handed down telling of refreshment being given to the Prince by some of the earlier residents. Careful provision was made for the continuing financial viability of the Estate by proper management and he took a close interest in the social uplift and encouragement of the families who were fortunate enough to be chosen to occupy it. Indeed the Prince Consort gave every encouragement to those cottagers in Windsor who showed diligence in keeping their homes tidy and an example to others. The Windsor Royal Association for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes was formed in 1850 as a result of the desire of the Prince to bestow some mark of favour on these cottagers who showed such diligence. The rewards were distributed at the annual meetings of the Association by Prince Albert himself and after his death by Queen Victoria and were originally in the form of a monetary payment although later prizes were awarded and the scheme enlarged to encompass many other forms of model citizenship.
Until 1969 when Trevor Osborne purchased the Estate it remained in a Trust derived from the Royal Association.. Although the designs were advanced for the time, by modern standards the amenities provided at the cottages were somewhat primitive and the task of providing all the modern conveniences while retaining the character of the original Estate was not an easy one. The exteriors have been preserved virtually intact although new slate roofs have been provided. The front gardens and central grounds have been re-arranged to give more spacious appearance and to allow for car parking. On completion of the work a little over two years ago the houses were re-let, the majority to existing residents, but for the first time in their history, individual cottages are now to be offered for sale.
Today the quadrangle of red-brick cottages and neatly kept gardens present a pleasing splash of colour hidden away from the rush of modern day living in Windsor and are unique in the Royal Borough. Largely as a result of the excellent renovation and representations by the Windsor and Eton Society, the Estate is now a conservation area and each cottage is listed as a building of Historic and Architectural Interest. To ensure the continued well-being of this attractive and historic corner of Windsor the present owners intend to continue a carefully prepared management scheme for the Estate as a whole as cottages pass into individual ownership.
G. Baxendale
Windsor Local History Group 