Woodview

Woodview

Photographed in 2001

The terraced houses known as Woodview were built circa 1898 as a speculative investment to rent by local businessmen, the first mass housing development in Bourne and a forerunner of the council house estates that were to follow later in the century. Until then, small plots of land at the outskirts of the town were sold piecemeal with a few houses being built at any one time, usually in twos or fours and occasionally in small terraces of six or 12. Examples of this can be found in many parts of the town, particularly in North Road and in Meadowgate where adjoining properties were built, often in the same styles, but at intervals of two and three years and are often dated accordingly.

The houses at Woodview were built exclusively for letting to working class families and census returns of the time reflect the various occupations of those who lived there including a gas fitter, gardener, fireman, postman, railway worker, milkman, shop assistant and brick maker. There are two rows of yellow brick houses, set at right angles to each other and known as Eastern and Western Villas and the original cast iron name plates can still be seen at the ends of each terrace. Eastern Villas is entirely two storeys high while Western Villas are mainly three storeys, thus providing more space for larger families.

The development comprises a total of 69 houses, a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties, and all have been drastically improved and modernised over the years. They were bought from private ownership during the early 20th century by the old Bourne Urban District Council and used as council houses but ownership was transferred to South Kesteven District Council during the re-organisation of local government in 1974 and this authority continues to administer the properties.

Some have been sold to sitting tenants under the government's Right to Buy scheme introduced under the Housing Act of 1985 but four of these were bought back by the council 10 years ago and returned to social housing. The site on which both Burghley Court and Exeter Court developments now stand was formerly the front gardens of the houses in Woodview. This complex of 29 homes, including seven two-bedroom bungalows, six one-bedroom flats and 16 two-bedroom houses, all with gas central heating, was built by SKDC in 1991 at a cost of £800,000. A foundation brick was laid by Councillor John Wright, chairman of the housing committee, on Monday 15th April and the entire project was completed by the end of the year.

Photographed in 1912
Woodview and some of its residents pictured in 1912 during a violent storm
which flooded the area.

WOODVIEW IN PAST TIMES

There was a strong community spirit among families living in these houses in years past, less so today. Evidence of this can be found in a news report from the Stamford Mercury on Friday 4th September 1914 when residents banded together to organise bazaars to raise funds for the families of soldiers who had volunteered to fight in the Great War that had just started:

On Monday afternoon, a miniature bazaar was held in Woodview which had its origin in a juvenile attempt on a small scale a fortnight previously. The arrangements had been taken in hand by a number of the residents who formed a small committee which included Mrs Wells, Mrs Swain, Mrs Worsdall, Mrs Fosh, Mrs Garfoot, Mrs Phipps, Mrs J Hinson and Mrs Pailing. Favoured with fine weather, the venture proved most successful. The stalls consisted of refreshments, toys, fruit and vegetables, and there was also a rummage stall. The ladies are mentioned above. The Vicar (the Rev H Cotton Smith) performed the opening ceremony, congratulating the promoters on their enterprise, eulogising their work on behalf of so worthy an object as the Prince of Wales's Fund [for the families of serving soldiers]. The tea was patronised by a goodly number. During the afternoon and evening, gramophone selections were given, the whole effort proving in every way successful. The total proceeds amounted to £7 13s. and the amount obtained at the previous sale and some odd amounts collected, the total was well over £8 [£430 at today's values].

PHOTO GALLERY