BUILDING IN CONCRETE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
have read the article on Concrete Building, by Majoi Douglas Wood, in your issue of February 27th. He says : `.` Before the Great War concrete as a material for building small houses was almost unknown."
In 1874 my late father sent two of his estate labourers from his place in Staffordshire to London in order that they might study building in concrete. On their return home my father built thirty artisans' houses on some land belonging to him within the Borough of Wolverhampton, and subsequently erected on his property at Oxley a public house, several cot- tages, farm buildings, built several walls and always used concrete for floors to stables. My father from 1878 until his death in 1905 was a firm believer in the future of concrete for building, and I think may justly be classified amongst the pioneers if not the first.
The system adopted by my father in all cases was the " poured " system. These buildings all exist to-day, and one of the cottages is still occupied by the Widow of one of those who were sent to London in 1874.—I am, Sir, &c., H. S. STAVELEY-HILL.
The Wood House, Princethorpe, Rugby.
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