The Labourer's Friend Society was a society founded by Lord Shaftesbury in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

in 1830 for the improvement of working class conditions. This included the promotion of allotment of land to labourers for "cottage husbandry" that later became the allotment movement, which the Society campaigned for after the Swing riots of 1830 as "the most plausible remedy for the social problems of the countryside". It published the ''Labourer's Friend Magazine'', and in 1844 changed its title to the Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes, becoming the first Model Dwellings Company in 1844. The Society received support from many influential figures of the time, including Montagu Burgoyne, Sir William Miles, Mary Ann Gilbert and Lord Ashley, who was the primary influence behind the transition of the Society into a more powerful body. The new Society had the patronage of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, the Prince Consort as president and Ashley as chairman. The company's architect was Henry Roberts, best known for Fishmongers' Hall in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. In 1959, the company became the 1830 Housing Society, which was taken over in 1965 by the Peabody Trust.

Buildings

Roberts's buildings made the SICLC a high-profile company with royal patronage and a display at the

Great Exhibition The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held), was an international exhibition that took ...

; however, functional, utilitarian design of Roberts's buildings led to criticism that they were grim and unpleasant. Buildings included: *Model Buildings, Bagnigge Wells, Pentonville for 23 families, and 30 aged women *George Street,

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London, part of the London Borough of Camden in England. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural institution, cultural, intellectual, and educational ...

, for 104 single men * Streatham Street,

, for 48 families *76 Hatton Garden, for 57 single women *2 Charles Street,

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the boundary between the Covent Garden and Holborn areas of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of London Borough of Camden, Camden and the southern part in the City o ...

, for 82 single men *A small lodging-house also for men, in King Street, Drury Lane *Turner Court, Hull Site Labour Supplies
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References

{{Authority control Housing organisations based in London Philanthropic organisations based in England Model dwellings Organizations established in 1830 1830 establishments in England Poverty in England Working class in the United Kingdom

Buildings

See also

References