Progress Estate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Progress Estate
Progress Estate conservation area
Location	Well Hall, Eltham, Greenwich, London, England
Status	Completed
Constructed	1915
Governing Body	Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Progress Estate is a special group of homes in Well Hall, Eltham, Greenwich, in South London. It was built in 1915 during World War I. These homes were for important workers at the Royal Arsenal. The Royal Arsenal was a big factory in Woolwich that made weapons for the war.

Where is the Progress Estate?

The Progress Estate is found in Eltham, a part of Greenwich. It's near a busy spot where two main roads meet. One road goes north and south, and the other goes east and west. The estate covers about 90 acres of land. That's like 68 football fields! It's located north of the Eltham railway station.

Why Was the Progress Estate Built?

The Progress Estate has 1,086 houses and 212 flats. It was planned and built very quickly in 1915. This was a special project during World War I to help with housing. The government's building department designed and built it.

Choosing the Right Spot

The land for the estate was chosen for three main reasons:

• It was the closest large area of land to Woolwich. This was important for workers at the Royal Arsenal.
• A tram service (Route 44) already ran from Eltham to Woolwich. This made it easy for workers to get to their jobs.
• A railway line from Dartford to Blackheath was also nearby. This helped bring building materials to the site quickly.

Who Owned the Estate?

At first, the government owned the estate. It wasn't called the Progress Estate until 1925. That's when it was sold to a company called Progress Estates Ltd. This company was part of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Over time, many people who lived there bought their homes. By 1980, most of the homes were privately owned. The remaining homes were sold to a social housing company called Hyde Group.

How the Progress Estate Was Designed

The government's building department didn't usually build homes. But their main architect, Sir Frank Baines, had a team of architects with experience. One of them, G. E. Phillips, created a layout that made the estate look like it had "grown" there. It was designed to be a beautiful example of how to solve housing problems during the war.

A Unique "Garden Suburb"

The Progress Estate is known as one of the first "garden suburbs" built by the government during World War I. A garden suburb is a type of housing area with lots of green spaces and a pleasant feel. The design followed ideas from the Garden city movement. This movement aimed to create healthy, low-density communities.

Creative Building Materials

During wartime, it was hard to get building materials. So, Sir Frank Baines used whatever he could find! This led to a very interesting and varied look for the homes. They used different materials like wood, tiles, slate, stone, and brick. The houses also had unique shapes and details. This made the estate look like an "old English Village." This special design still makes the area popular today.

Naming the Streets

Only one road, Well Hall Road, was there before the estate was built. The other roads were named after famous men. These men had lived in Woolwich and worked at the Royal Arsenal or the Dockyard. For example:

• Congreve Street is named after Sir William Congreve and his son. They were in charge of the Royal Laboratories at the Arsenal.
• Maudslay Road is named after Henry Maudslay, who was a pioneer in machine tools and worked at the Arsenal.
• Shrapnel Street is named after Henry Shrapnel, who invented the shrapnel shell.

A Royal Visit

In 1916, Queen Mary visited the Progress Estate. She went inside three homes and met the residents. After that, she went to the Royal Arsenal to see the canteen where workers ate.

The Progress Estate was given Conservation Area status in 1975. This means its special design and history are protected. The estate celebrated its 100th birthday in 2015!