The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (IIDC) was a Victorian Model dwellings company founded in 1863 by the printer, philanthropist and later Lord Mayor of London Sir Sydney Waterlow. The company operated predominantly in Central London as a provider of block dwellings for the working classes, employing a strict selection and discipline regime amongst its tenants to ensure a healthy return on investment.Tarn, J.N. (1968) The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, vol. 22, pp. 43-59.http://www.lamas.org.uk/archives/transactions/volume22.html Starting with a capital of £50,000,National Archives acquisition LMA/4013 the IIDC became one of the largest and most successful of the model dwellings companies, housing at its height around 30,000 individuals.Wohl, A.S. (1977) The eternal slum: housing and social policy in Victorian London. London: Edward Arnold
Waterlow's example was influential. The Newcastle Upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company was set up by James Hall of Hall Brothers Steamship Company, Tynemouth, after visiting Sir Sydney Waterlow's establishment in London.
Buildings Waterlow worked with the builder Matthew Allen, choosing not to use an architect. Blocks built by the IIDC include: Marlborough Buildings, Chelsea Huntingdon Buildings, Bethnal Green Leopold Buildings, Bethnal Green Sandringham Buildings, Charing Cross Cromwell Buildings, Southwark Langbourn Buildings, Finsbury Clarendon Flats, Mayfair Cobden Buildings, Kings Cross Road, Islington (1865) Ambrosden Avenue, Devil's Acre, Westminster Derby Buildings, Britannia Street, Camden Old Tower Buildings, Brewhouse Lane, Wapping (1864) Compton Buildings, Finsbury (1871) New Tower Buildings, Wapping High Street, Wapping (1886)
There were others in Old St Pancras Road, Wapping, Greenwich and Islington.National Archives acquisition LMA/4013
See also List of existing model dwellings
References
External links National Archives acquisition LMA/4013; list of blocks built by the IIDC