The Industrial Dwellings Society (1885) Ltd. (IDS) was formed in London during the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

as a

philanthropic Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

model dwellings company Model dwellings companies (MDCs) were a group of private companies in Victorian Britain that sought to improve the housing conditions of the working classes by building new homes for them, at the same time receiving a competitive rate of return ...

, known at the time as the Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company. In 1952 the organisation took its present name and form and is today commonly known as simply IDS. The IDS manages over 1,400 properties in the

London Borough The London boroughs are the current 32 districts of England, local authority districts that together with the City of London make up the administrative area of Greater London, England; each is governed by a London borough council. The present ...

s of Hackney,

Tower Hamlets The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a borough in London, England. Situated on the north bank of the River Thames and immediately east of the City of London, the borough spans much of the traditional East End of London and includes much of ...

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, Redbridge and

Barnet Barnet may refer to: People *Barnet (surname) *Barnet (given name) Places United Kingdom *Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below. *East Barnet, a district of the borough below; anc ...

, and the Borough of

Hertsmere Hertsmere is a local government district with borough status in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Borehamwood. Other settlements in the borough include Bushey, Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar. The borough contains several fi ...

History

The foundation of the company followed the

United Synagogue The United Synagogue (US) is the largest umbrella body for Orthodox Judaism in Britain. It is structured as a charity which serves the United Kingdom, British Jewish community in the broadest possible way. One of the largest charities in the B ...

's enquiry into "spiritual destitution" in 1884.jewisheastend.com
/ref> The company was founded in 1885 by

Nathan Rothschild Nathaniel Rothschild may refer to: * Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836), British banker * Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812–1870), banker and vintner, Château Mouton Rothschild * Nathaniel Mayer von Rothschild (1836–1905), member of the Roths ...

and a board of other prominent,

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

philanthropists including Frederick Mocatta and

Samuel Montagu Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling (21 December 1832 – 12 January 1911), was a British banker who founded the bank of Samuel Montagu & Co. He was a philanthropist and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1900, a ...

, to provide "the industrial classes with commodious and healthy Dwellings at a minimum rent". The company was founded as a private capital concern, with capital of £50,000 in 5000 shares of £10 each:

It is estimated that if the rentals were based on a net return of 4 per cent excellent accommodation consisting of two rooms, a small scullery, and w.c. could be supplied at a weekly rental of five shillings per tenement; and it is considered that many investors will be found willing and even anxious to contribute their capital towards a scheme, which while yielding a moderate and safe return, will largely tend, not only to improve the dwellings of the poor, but also reduce the high rates now paid for the minimum of accommodation.

Of this, Rothschild himself subscribed £10,000, and even paid for the site of the company's first project (in Flower and Dean Street,

Spitalfields Spitalfields () is an area in London, England and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in East London and situated in the East End of London, East End. Spitalfields is formed around Commercial Street, London, Commercial Stre ...

) himself, months before the first meeting of the Company directors.White, J. (1980) ''Rothschild Buildings: life in an East End tenement block, 1887-1920'', p.21 These first buildings were to be known as Charlotte de Rothschild Buildings, after Lord Rothschild's mother, and took up parts of Thrawl Street, Flower and Dean Street, and George Street, Spitalfields. The majority of the Four Per Cent Company's tenants were Jewish. By 1905, it had built six large blocks (known as 'Rothschild houses' comprising around 1,500 flats, or 3,800 rooms. "Each had two rooms, shared a toilet and kitchen with the adjacent flat, and opened to outdoor halls and stairways. In order to reimburse investors at the promised rate, the six storey buildings occupies no less than 50% of the ground space and tenants paid about 5s to 6s a week (25p to 30p). These grey stone houses were drab and draughty, but they were also solid and sanitary, and were probably better flats than those in other projects of the time."

Present day

Today, IDS manages a large number of properties, predominantly in the East of London, but also in Southwark, Hertsmere and Barnet, including flats, houses,

sheltered housing Sheltered housing or sheltered accommodation are terms covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people. In the United Kingdom most commonly it refers to grouped housing such as a block or "scheme" ...

, accommodation for people with special needs,

key worker A key worker is a worker in an occupation given preferential treatment by government policy. They may be exempted from rules which apply to the general population or prioritized for the receipt of benefits. Reasons for preferential treatment ...

housing and

shared ownership Equity sharing is another name for shared ownership or '' co-ownership''. It takes one property, more than one owner, and blends them to maximize profit and tax deductions. Typically, the parties find a home and buy it together as co-owners, but ...

properties. It still specialises in culturally specific housing and acquired the Ajex Housing Association for Jewish ex-servicemen/women in 2006; IDS also work with the Otto Schiff housing association, Agudas Israel Housing Association and the Bangla Housing Association. IDS is chaired by Michael Brodtman and the Chief Executive is Jonathan Gregory.

Buildings

* Charlotte de Rothschild Dwellings, Flower and Dean Street, Spitalfields (aka Rothschild Buildings) (1886) * Evelina Mansions, New Church Road,

Camberwell Camberwell ( ) is an List of areas of London, area of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross. Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles' Church, Camberwell, St Giles ...

* Nathaniel Dwellings, Flower and Dean Street, Spitalfields * Mocatta House, Brady Street,

Whitechapel Whitechapel () is an area in London, England, and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in east London and part of the East End of London, East End. It is the location of Tower Hamlets Town Hall and therefore the borough tow ...

(1890) * Navarino Mansions, Dalston Lane, Hackney (1903-5)Geograph
/ref> * Stepney Green Court, Stepney Green * Silver Jubilee Mews, Canvey Island

History

Present day

Buildings

See also

References

Further reading