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Replacement housing JLP01_08_069312
St Marys Estate, Oldham. A worker securing a concrete slab during the construction of 12M Jespersen prototype flats in Oldham, with derelict terraced houses in the background.
In 1963, John Laing and Son Ltd bought the rights to the Danish industrialised building system known as Jespersen (sometimes referred to as Jesperson). The company built factories in Scotland, Hampshire and Lancashire producing Jespersen prefabricated parts and precast concrete panels, allowing the building of housing to be rationalised, saving time and money. The prototype flats shown in the photograph were built using the 12M Jespersen building system and were the first to be erected in Britain by Laing for the County Borough of Oldham. They were a short distance from the future St Marys Estate on which 500 dwellings were due to be built comprising of low rise flats and modern terraced houses, replacing the earlier slums which had occupied the area. The 12M Jespersen flats on the housing estate were later demolished in 2007 with only the houses left standing. Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places. © Historic England Archive
Media ID 24561617
Filename: jlp01_08_069312.jpg
Size: 5299 x 5324 (5.2MB)
Date: 17th March 2022
Source: Historic England
Credit: © Historic England Archive. Joh
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: https://images.historicenglandservices.org.uk/
1960s Construction Flats Housing People Post War Redevelopment Regeneration Work Slum Clearance Social Housing
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in the history of housing construction. In the foreground, we see a diligent worker securing a concrete slab during the construction of 12M Jespersen prototype flats in Oldham. The backdrop reveals derelict terraced houses, symbolizing the need for replacement housing. In 1963, John Laing and Son Ltd acquired the rights to Jespersen, an innovative Danish industrialized building system. This acquisition led to the establishment of factories across Scotland, Hampshire, and Lancashire that produced prefabricated parts and precast concrete panels under this system. By streamlining the building process, time and money were saved. The prototype flats depicted here were groundbreaking as they marked Laing's first venture into using Jespersen in Britain on behalf of Oldham's County Borough. These flats stood near what would become St Marys Estate – an ambitious project set to replace dilapidated slums with modern low-rise flats and terraced houses totaling 500 dwellings. Sadly, these very same 12M Jespersen flats met their fate in 2007 when they were demolished; only the houses remained standing as a testament to their durability. This photograph from Historic England Archive serves as both a visual record of progress made through innovation and a reminder of how our built environment evolves over time.
